The government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have reached a new pay agreement for junior doctors in England, offering an average 22% pay increase
over the next two years. The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee has decided to present this offer to its members for approval.
If accepted, this deal would bring an end to the prolonged strike action that has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments since March 2023. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to outline the details of the agreement in the House of Commons later today.
Details of the Offer
The latest proposal includes a 4% pay increase retroactively for the 2023-24 period, in addition to the existing 9% raise from the previous financial year. For 2024-25, an additional 6% increase is being offered. Altogether, this would amount to an average total increase of approximately 22% over the two-year period for each junior doctor.
The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee will recommend this offer to its members, who will then vote on whether to accept the deal.
Impact of the Strikes
Junior doctors have been advocating for a 35% pay rise to address what they claim are years of pay increases below inflation. Since March 2023, they have staged industrial action 11 times, resulting in significant disruptions to healthcare services. The most recent five-day strike, which occurred just before the general election, led to the postponement of 61,989 appointments, procedures, and operations, according to NHS England.
