Doctors next month will take industrial action for the first time since the 1970s. GPs have defended a decision to refuse all non-urgent care for a period of 24-hour action on June 21. A majority of doctors voted in favour of action in a ballot of 104,000 union members over pension changes. Dean Royles, director of NHS Employers, commented: "We know that doctors are anxious about changes to their pensions. But no-one wants to see patients dragged into the argument."