At the eleventh-hour, Isle of Man doctors have successfully negotiated a pay offer, postponing what would have been the first ever doctors strike on the Isle of Man.
The BMA will take this offer to members to vote on and is recommending the offer is accepted.
If the offer is accepted, this will put an end to the dispute and senior doctors, who are employed by Manx Care, the Island’s healthcare provider, will receive an 8% pay offer backdated to 1st April 2023 for last year.
For 24/25 they will receive 8% with 6% backdated to 1st April 2024 and the remaining 2% effective from 1st February 2025.
Meanwhile resident doctors on the island will have their base salaries matched to the same level as their mainland counterparts in NHS England.
Isle of Man doctors have experienced real terms pay cuts since 2008 – some as much as 19%. Since 2008, inflation on the island has increased by 56.3% while the maximum consultant’s salary increased by just 27.3% over the same period.
In December, Isle of Man doctors voted overwhelmingly to support industrial action, with 95% voting yes.
Chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan said: "I’m relieved we managed to successfully negotiate this long overdue pay offer without the need for strike action. Doctors on the Isle of Man deserve to be treated with the same respect as their mainland counterparts and have their expertise both recognised and paid fairly for the work that they do. This offer, if accepted by our members means we can continue to do what we do best – providing our patients with high quality care. I’d like to thank the Manx Industrial Relations Service, the Chief Minister, and the Minister for Health and Social Care for their valuable support in getting us this far.”
BMA council chair Professor Philip Banfield: “This first step towards reversing the pay erosion that Isle of Man doctors have seen since 2008 is the right decision by Manx Care for the long-term viability of doctors’ employment on the Island. All doctors deserve to be paid fairly in recognition of their expertise, the work that they do, and the rising costs of living where they work. We believed our doctors deserved better, helped them organise and stood with them. I’m pleased to see Manx Care come around and recognise their value too."
Notes to editors
The BMA is a professional association and 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.