Junior doctors in Scotland have voted to strike in what will be their first national walkout over pay.
Members of BMA Scotland voted overwhelmingly to strike, with 97% of those who took part in the ballot backing the walkout, the union said on Friday. Turnout was 71%.
Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish junior doctors committee, said: "This ballot result shows, beyond doubt, that junior doctors in Scotland have had enough."
The union has now warned that, should the Scottish Government not put forward a pay deal it felt was credible in negotiations, junior doctors would then begin preparations for a 72-hour walkout at dates to be confirmed.
The union said it was in negotiations with the Scottish Government, and claimed that pay for junior doctors had been eroded over the past 15 years with them earning 23.5% less than if they were doing the same job in 2008.
An increase of 4.5% has been rejected, with junior doctors claiming the offer was a real-terms pay cut. The Scottish Government has previously said the BMA’s pay demands were "simply unaffordable".
Scotland's Health Secretary Michael Matheson on Friday said he is disappointed junior doctors have voted to strike and said he will continue to do all he can to avert industrial action in NHS Scotland.
No Emergency Cover to be Provided During Strike: BMA
The number of junior doctors entitled to vote in the ballot was 5052, with 3610 taking part in the vote. Some 3499 said they wanted to strike, while 111 said they did not want to during the 5-week ballot which closed on Friday.
If doctors walk out, the union said, junior doctors would not provide emergency care during the strike, with NHS boards needing to arrange emergency cover.
Dr Smith said the years of pay erosion was "simply unacceptable".
"We are no longer prepared to stand aside, feeling overworked and undervalued, while witnessing so many junior doctors seeking employment abroad or outside the NHS where our considerable skills are properly valued," he said, adding that the union has made "progress" with the Scottish Government in its negotiations. "But there is still some work to do before there is an offer that we believe could be credibly put to members.
"We are not asking for huge pay increases – we are simply asking for a tangible step towards addressing the pay erosion our profession has suffered for well over a decade, combined with a clear plan for this to be reversed and restored."
Mr Matheson said: "I am disappointed that BMA junior doctors have voted to take industrial action, which is in no-one's interest. I will continue to do all I can to avert industrial action in NHS Scotland.
"Negotiations to agree a pay uplift are already underway. As these negotiations are held in confidence, it would be inappropriate to offer any further details at this time."
