Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the pay offer in her speech to parliament today (29 July), saying that “today marks the start of a new relationship with the government and staff working in the NHS”.
She added that this and other public sector pay rises would require “difficult choices” in terms of how public money was spent, and said she would ask all departments to find savings totalling at least £3bn this year. Government departments will also be expected to make 2% in back office savings.
Junior doctors who are members of the BMA will vote on whether to accept the new deal over the coming weeks.
In a statement on X, the BMA said: “Your dedication to pay restoration has paid off. We have successfully negotiated an offer with the government that we believe is credible enough for you to have your say.”
Junior doctors in England 📢📢📢
Your dedication to pay restoration has paid off. We have successfully negotiated an offer with the Government that we believe is credible enough for you to have your say.
Visit the link below for more information:https://t.co/W4wO1ko7QP pic.twitter.com/3AaJNfi2Wb
— Junior Doctors (@BMA_JuniorDocs) July 29, 2024
The agreement has been reached after 44 days of strikes since junior doctors first took industrial action in March 2023, with the most recent industrial action occurring just before the general election this month.
The new pay offer from the government is thought to comprise a 4% backdated pay rise for 2023-24, on top of an existing increase worth 9% for the last financial year. Junior doctors will then receive a further 6% for 2024-25, bringing the total over two years to around 22%.
Junior doctors originally campaigned for a 35% rise, claiming that this reflected below-inflationary pay rises over 15 years.
Prior to Labour winning the general election, health secretary Wes Streeting said it would be unlikely his party would be able to meet the 35% demand, but promised to “sit down and negotiate with the doctors”.
Nurses in two unions accepted a pay deal of 5% consolidated over two years last year, but this was rejected by the Royal College of Nursing. The previous government had discussed introducing a separate pay scale for nurses in England so there is more transparency over pay rises and progression.
Separately, a ballot closes today on whether GPs should stage industrial action over new contracts for their services across England.
If the proposed collective action goes ahead, GPs could limit the number of patients they see each day to 25.
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