David Farren

“This annual uncertainty over when we will actually receive our pay award reinforces the widespread feeling that we are not valued, and leads to doctors seeking better paid roles elsewhere.”

“There is palpable anger among our members at continuing sub-inflationary, late pay awards while we work beyond capacity in under-supported services”

“Our pay since 2008 has decreased by over 20%, and that's why everybody is out today”

“This is an existential threat to our health service”

“We are not looking to have strikes for the sake of having strikes. We are looking to try and move this forward. However, if the Minister doesn't come forward, I think escalation of action is the next step.”

“there is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system where their jobs have become more complex and pressured.”

“Add in the now annual uncertainty over late pay awards while our colleagues elsewhere in the UK are paid on time, along with the more lucrative contracts offered in the Republic of Ireland, and you create a hugely demoralising effect on doctors working in Northern Ireland.”

“It is quite clear that doctors in Northern Ireland are paid less than those in England, Scotland, and Wales. What the minister means by parity means that we get the same uplift as everyone else, but we don't start on the same footing”

“However, there is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system where their jobs have become more complex and pressured”

“There is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system.”

“No doctor wants to take strike action. However, there is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system.”

“We do not have sufficient doctors to deliver all the services in every hospital site that we currently do.”

“This result sends a very clear message that concerns about pay erosion, workload and the future of the profession are widely shared across the workforce, across all grades of hospital doctor.”

“This result sends a very clear message that concerns about pay erosion, workload and the future of the profession are widely shared across the workforce, across all grades of hospital doctor.”

“So I understand people saying it's difficult when doctors are moving away and they're doing this to be greedy, they're not.”

“We are not delivering the health service that we need to deliver to the people because it is under resourced and understaffed.”

“We accept this will cause disruption for patients and our health service colleagues. However, doctors have to take a stand against below inflation pay offers and the impact this is having on the workforce, offers that are not even guaranteed to be paid this year. It is insulting and demoralising.”

“We accept this will cause disruption for patients and our health service colleagues. However, doctors have to take a stand against below inflation pay offers and the impact this is having on the workforce, offers that are not even guaranteed to be paid this year. It is insulting and demoralising.”

“There is a real risk we will lose more consultants through early retirement, reduced hours, or by leaving for better pay and a more functional health system elsewhere.”