Doctors on the Isle of Man have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action with 121 of 127 (95%) doctors voting yes in a ballot over pay.  

This is the first time doctors on the island have been balloted in this way and the first time they will take industrial action.  

The doctors, who are employed by the island’s healthcare provider, Manx Care, are asking for a 12.6% uplift in pay for the 23/24 pay year.  

Isle of Man doctors have experienced real terms pay cuts since 2008 – some as much as 19 per cent. 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 October, the BMA warned Manx Care of the deep frustration felt by doctors following the results of an annual survey of doctors on the Island - the ‘Culture of Care Barometer’ survey. This survey revealed: a lack of confidence in management, poor culture and overall low morale.  

Despite a series of meetings between BMA representatives and Manx Care, an acceptable deal has not yet been put on the table. Whilst talks are ongoing, BMA remains committed to working towards a negotiated solution. 

Chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan said:

“We’ve now got a clear mandate from our members that Manx Care cannot ignore. I hope we can still avoid strike action, and that Manx Care will now come to us in good faith to find a solution that values the work we do. Doctors want to give patients the best possible care and that’s achieved by improving the working lives of doctors and the first step towards such improvement is reduction of the years of pay erosion we have suffered.” 

Prof Phil Banfield, Chair of council at the BMA, said:

“Doctors on the Isle of Man are overworked, underpaid and overlooked. These doctors deserve to be treated with fairness and respect. Their resident, consultant and SAS colleagues across the UK have fought for, and won, pay uplifts as their first step on a journey to restoring the lost value of their pay. Doctors on the Isle of Man deserve the same. The BMA has organised and supported this ballot at the request of its members, and we will continue to support Manx doctors in fighting for appropriate recognition of their skills and expertise they bring to the Island’s patients.” 

 

Ends

Notes to editors

• The ballot was open from Tuesday, 19 November 2024 and closed on Monday, 23 December 2024. 

• Isle of Man doctors who are directly contracted by Manx Care, are not eligible for the pay increases that consultants, residents and SAS doctors have achieved in England, Scotland and Wales. This is because although there is a reciprocal agreement with the NHS in terms of patient care, the Island is self-governing. This has led to most Isle of Man pay scales being significantly less than those of colleagues in the UK.  

• This is compounded by the lack of access to local clinical excellence awards (CEAs). The CEA scheme is an incentive programme which allows NHS consultants to earn extra money on top of their salary for outstanding work or research. Isle of Man doctors have not had access to the scheme since 2004. 

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.