England's senior hospital doctors to strike for 48 hours from November 25

Consultants in England will stage a 48-hour walkout from 25 November in a dispute over pay and pensions, providing only emergency 'Christmas Day' cover, which is likely to disrupt most routine and planned care. The British Medical Association says consultant pay has fallen by a quarter over 17 years after inflation. They received a 3.5% rise this year.