Jessica O'ConnorResident doctors in Wales have voted to accept a landmark new contract, with 83% of respondents backing the proposals in a recent referendum.
The agreement delivers a 4% additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and is designed to support progress towards pay restoration, while introducing reforms aimed at improving working conditions, training and long-term workforce sustainability.
Key changes include new safeguards to prevent the most fatiguing working patterns, measures to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.
The contract was negotiated between the BMA Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government, before being put to members and final-year medical students in Wales.
The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026, beginning with foundation doctors, those in specialty training programmes with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.
Dr Oba Babs Osibodu, chair of the Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and far better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.
“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.
“We remain committed to achieving full pay restoration, and this contract helps to set us on this path, but we will not stop campaigning until we have reached this target.
“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we acknowledge the fact that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and find permanent work.
“We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to find urgent solutions to the training bottlenecks and doctor underemployment crisis.”
