After months of industrial action and negotiations, a long-running dispute between resident doctors in England and the government has finally reached a resolution. Following a ballot of its members, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced that 53% of eligible doctors had voted in favour of accepting a new pay and jobs package, with a turnout of 57%. The agreement brings an end to the series of strikes that began in March 2023.
The accepted offer includes an average pay uplift of 6.6%, which will be fully implemented by April 2027. Crucially, the deal also addresses concerns about career progression and job availability within the NHS, committing to create 4,500 additional specialty training places over the next three years. This move aims to mitigate the 'absurd lack of jobs' in the health service.
As part of this agreement, resident doctors will benefit from a new pay structure, improved career progression, and better conditions to support their training and rotations. Patients can expect greater stability within the NHS, as the deal brings an end to the disruptions caused by repeated strike action. The resolution is a significant step towards resolving the long-running dispute, which began with concerns about real-terms decline in salaries since 2008-09.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, stated that the offer was sufficient for residents to continue working towards pay restoration and addressing job shortages. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that this deal will result in resident doctor pay being 35.2% higher on average compared to four years ago.
Health Secretary James Murray welcomed the news, expressing relief that the agreement would allow the NHS to rebuild after months of disruptions. He highlighted the benefits of the new pay structure and improved career progression for residents, as well as greater stability for patients within the health service.
Source: British Medical Association, Department of Health and Social Care