Health Minister statement on planned industrial action

Date published: 24 June 2026

It is important to stress that over 90% of services across the Health and Social Care (HSC) system are proceeding as planned. All patients with scheduled appointments on either day should attend as planned unless they have been directly contacted to advise their appointment has been postponed. All Trusts have activated their planning arrangements to ensure essential services are maintained. 

I remain committed to implementing this year’s pay award as recommended by the independent Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB) but unfortunately, I am currently unable to do so in the absence of an agreed budget for my department.

This action is being taken on the mandate of less than a quarter of the medical workforce in Northern Ireland. Overall, only 24.8% of doctors locally have voted to take this action. I am very grateful to those who recognise the impacts strike action will have on our population, and for their commitment to provide continuity of service.

The uplift recommended by the Review Body for 26/27 is 3.5%, which is higher than that for other healthcare professionals working in Health and Social Care (HSC). It comes on top of an average cumulative pay uplifts over the last three years of 30% for resident doctors, 25% for Specialty, Associate Specialist, and Specialist doctors (SAS doctors) and 24% for consultants.

I recently met with the chairs of the 3 relevant BMA Committees and made clear my position. They made clear that even the increase of 3.5% is nowhere near enough to satisfy their demands. To go beyond the 3.5% as recommended by the independent pay review recommendation would have significant repercussions for nurses, teachers, police officers and indeed the entire public sector workforce. So, calling on me to act fails to recognise this is an Executive decision, a point I put to the BMA representatives.

“I reiterate my commitment to ensuring HSC colleagues receive their recommended 26/27 pay uplifts, despite the unprecedented shortfall as indicated in my draft budget. I value the workforce above our buildings, beds, equipment and medicines. But there is simply no scope for pay awards beyond the recommendations of the review bodies in 26/27.

Finally, I want to pay a particular tribute to the many doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and exceptional support staff who will continue to deliver care and see patients throughout the days of planned industrial action.