Commenting on yesterdays’ announcement in relation to doctors pay, Dr Clodagh Corrigan, BMA Northern Ireland Council deputy chair said, “We note that the DDRB has recommended an uplift of 6% for all doctors with an additional £1000 non consolidated award for doctors in training.
“This is a step in the right direction to improve doctors pay, but there is still work to be done to address the pay erosion doctors have faced. Only by doing that will we retain doctors in the health service here and address the shameful waiting lists and delays in treatment patients face. It is however deeply concerning to see the Department of Health indicating they will not be able to afford the pay uplift without cuts to services.
“The government in England has said that it accepts this recommendation and will apply it to doctors there. Therefore our own health minister now needs to ensure that the same uplift is applied to doctors here as quickly as possible. As noted by the DDRB, the uplift for 2023 was finally paid in June 2024, months later than the rest of the UK. This is totally unacceptable and needs to be rectified. We cannot continually be lagging behind, it is damaging to morale and ultimately to patient care.
“An improved offer has also been made today to junior doctors in England. The health minister here now needs to work quickly to assess the impact there will be if a substantially improved pay offer is not now made to junior doctors in Northern Ireland, this is the only way to avert further and longer strike action.
“SAS doctors here are also moving towards balloting for industrial action as they see their pay falling further behind the rest of the UK with successful negotiations in other nations resulting in resolution of pay disputes and averted industrial action. We are calling on the Minister to meet with these two groups of doctors as soon as possible.”
Notes to editors
- The BMA is a trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.