Resident doctors in Scotland have accepted a pay deal worth around 11% but say there is still significant work to do to combat years of pay erosion.
Almost all resident (formerly junior) doctors (98.2% on a turnout of 61.4%) voted to accept the offer, which comprises an 8.5% rise from April of this year, with a compounding increase of 2.3% from 1 October.
Health secretary Neil Gray said the deal demonstrated how much resident doctors were valued – and ensured that NHS Scotland remained the place of choice to work and train.
Scottish resident doctors committee chair Chris Smith welcomed the deal but warned the Scottish Government not to become complacent. ‘Today is another important step forward for Scottish resident doctors, but there is still significant work to be done to achieve full pay restoration, which is a vital step towards keeping the doctors we need in Scotland for the benefit of the NHS and ultimately patients.’
SMITH: Rebuild pay for the sake of Scotland’s NHS
He said the vote sent two clear messages to the Scottish Government: that doctors were united behind their union and the campaign for full pay restoration, and that the framework deal agreed in 2023-24 – and built on with this accepted deal for 2024-25 – was essential to moving forwards constructively.
‘The Scottish Government must continue to build on the agreements that we have reached so that doctors have confidence that our current trajectory towards full pay restoration – and the true recognition of our skills, sacrifices, and responsibility – is satisfactory and sustainable,’ he added.
The deal means a rise in the current financial year of £3,418 for doctors at the very start of their career, and £7,088 for those nearing the end of their training. But Dr Smith pointed out that this was only around halfway towards rectifying the historic pay erosion inflicted on Scottish resident doctors.
‘We have had two years of solid progress, but if the Scottish Government were to slow down or become complacent now, it would be extremely damaging for relations with the medical profession and therefore for what the health service is able to deliver for patients.
‘To be clear, while we have so far seen negotiations conducted robustly, but in good faith, any signs that progress is starting to slow or stop in coming years will be met with a resolute and united profession clear in its view that the deal done simply must be delivered in full.’