BMA Council members have insisted ‘all options' for future industrial action are still on the table as the union battles to maintain the momentum of its campaign against the Government's pension reforms.
Ahead of this week's crucial council meeting in Edinburgh, BMA Council members said they were determined to keep up the pressure on ministers, but admitted there were ‘mixed views' on whether to take more action.
The meeting will decide the next steps for the BMA, with council members due to consider feedback on last month's ‘day of action'. But it comes after the Treasury announced it was to press ahead with legislation to implement the pensions deal.
BMA council member and GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: ‘We will assess the issues at the meeting. All options [for action] are still there.'
Dr Peter Holden, BMA council member and GPC negotiator, said: ‘For a long time, doctors have not taken industrial action. This reminded [the Government] we can't be taken for granted. There are mixed views [on whether to repeat it], so we need to see sampling and reports.'
New BMA chair Dr Mark Porter was due to meet health secretary Andrew Lansley before the meeting, but the Department of Health said it was an introductory meeting and there would be no negotiations on pensions.
