Ryan FowlerNHS consultants in England have accepted a fresh pay agreement, putting an end to their dispute with the government. This deal, approved by members of the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, includes a near 20% pay rise for some consultants for the financial year 2023-24.
A substantial 83% of union members voted in favor of the last month’s pay offer, following the narrow rejection of a previous proposal in December. Initially, consultants were granted a 6% salary increase in April 2023, followed by an additional offer equating to nearly 5% on average by year’s end.
The revised proposal further incorporates an extra 2.85% increase for consultants between four and seven years into their careers, targeting the group previously receiving the minimal increase under the former offer. This pay rise will be retroactively applied from January, culminating in a near 20% pay enhancement throughout 2023-24 for some senior doctors. Moreover, consultants are poised for another salary increment for the 2024-25 financial year.
Despite this resolution, junior doctors in England persist in their pay dispute, equipped with a renewed strike mandate. The consultants’ last strike, spanning from October 2-4, marked their longest period of action to date, coinciding with a junior doctors’ strike. This series of strikes underscores ongoing issues within the NHS, with consultants taking action on August 24-26 and September 19-20 prior.
Dr. Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA consultants committee, remarked, “This is only the end of the beginning, and we have some way to go before the pay consultants have lost over the last 15 years has been restored,” indicating the continued efforts required to fully address consultants’ pay concerns.
In Wales, BMA Cymru Wales rejected a 5% pay offer for 2023-24, below the recommended 6.5%, prompting a vote in favor of strike action scheduled to last 48 hours from April 16 to 18. The BMA in Scotland seeks a similar pay offer to that of England and hints at potential strike action. In Northern Ireland, consultants are preparing for a ballot on industrial action following an indicative ballot where 77% showed willingness for such measures.
The BMA and government still face considerable challenges in resolving the junior doctors’ pay dispute, with a fresh six-month strike mandate secured after talks faltered last year. Meanwhile, junior doctors in Northern Ireland and Wales continue their pay disputes with the government, having taken strike action.
