Key points at a glance
The offer represents a cumulative pay uplift of 11% for the financial year 2024/25
- An initial uplift of 8.5% from 01 April 2024.
- A further uplift of 2.3% from 01 October 2024.
- Along with last year's deal, this offer would take us virtually halfway to pay restoration, with two further years of the agreement remaining.
- This offer applies to all NHS Scotland resident doctors, dentists in training, as well as relevant clinical academics, and represents a total investment of £64.1 million in resident doctor pay.
BMA Scotland will be conducting a consultative vote by resident doctors in Scotland, which will open on 28 October and run for three weeks, closing on 20 November. Read further details about the vote.
The Scottish resident doctors committee recommends that doctors vote to accept the deal.
New pay scale
All resident doctors in Scotland will receive a cumulative pay uplift of 11% as a result of the deal.
| Pay point | Pay scale 2023/24 | Pay scale 01 April 2024 | % Uplift | £ Uplift | Pay scale 01 October 2024 | % Uplift | £ Uplift | Cumulative % increase | Total £ increase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation year 1 | 0 | £31,082 | £33,724 | 8.5% | £2,642 | £34,500 | 2.3% | £776 | 11% | £3,418 |
| Foundation year 1 | 1 | £33,024 | £35,831 | 8.5% | £2,807 | £36,655 | 2.3% | £824 | 11% | £3,631 |
| Foundation year 1 | 2 | £34,964 | £37,936 | 8.5% | £2,972 | £38,808 | 2.3% | £873 | 11% | £3,844 |
| Foundation year 2 | 0 | £38,553 | £41,830 | 8.5% | £3,277 | £42,792 | 2.3% | £962 | 11% | £4,239 |
| Foundation year 2 | 1 | £41,075 | £44,566 | 8.5% | £3,491 | £45,591 | 2.3% | £1,025 | 11% | £4,516 |
| Foundation year 2 | 2 | £43,597 | £47,303 | 8.5% | £3,706 | £48,391 | 2.3% | £1,088 | 11% | £4,794 |
| Resident doctors | 0 | £40,995 | £44,480 | 8.5% | £3,485 | £45,503 | 2.3% | £1,023 | 11% | £4,508 |
| Resident doctors | 1 | £43,504 | £47,202 | 8.5% | £3,698 | £48,287 | 2.3% | £1,086 | 11% | £4,783 |
| Resident doctors | 2 | £47,007 | £51,003 | 8.5% | £3,996 | £52,176 | 2.3% | £1,173 | 11% | £5,169 |
| Resident doctors | 3 | £49,126 | £53,302 | 8.5% | £4,176 | £54,528 | 2.3% | £1,226 | 11% | £5,402 |
| Resident doctors | 4 | £51,680 | £56,073 | 8.5% | £4,393 | £57,362 | 2.3% | £1,290 | 11% | £5,682 |
| Resident doctors | 5 | £54,235 | £58,845 | 8.5% | £4,610 | £60,198 | 2.3% | £1,353 | 11% | £5,963 |
| Resident doctors | 6 | £56,793 | £61,620 | 8.5% | £4,827 | £63,038 | 2.3% | £1,417 | 11% | £6,245 |
| Resident doctors | 7 | £59,384 | £64,432 | 8.5% | £5,048 | £65,914 | 2.3% | £1,482 | 11% | £6,530 |
| Resident doctors | 8 | £61,903 | £67,165 | 8.5% | £5,262 | £68,710 | 2.3% | £1,545 | 11% | £6,807 |
| Resident doctors | 9 | £64,461 | £69,940 | 8.5% | £5,479 | £71,549 | 2.3% | £1,609 | 11% | £7,088 |
How we got here
Like all doctors across the UK, Resident Doctors in Scotland have experienced unacceptable pay erosion since 2008. We are committed to fully restoring the pay of the profession to at least this level. Learn more about our campaign.
Your questions answered
Why is SRDC recommending resident doctors accept this offer?
SRDC believes this a credible offer that has been reached by negotiation that makes significant progress and maintains the current trajectory towards the goal of full pay restoration.
Reassuringly, this year SRDC has not required the threat of industrial action for the Scottish Government to honour their commitment to making a credible pay offer. This is a positive step.
What happens if resident doctors vote to accept the deal?
SRDC will consider the outcome of the ballot and whether it is decisive enough to advise Scottish Government that the deal has been accepted. In the event that it is a clear acceptance, both parties will work together to implement the new pay scales as quickly as possible.
What happens if resident doctors vote to reject the deal?
There is no set or definite outcome if this offer is rejected. In the event this offer is rejected, SRDC will consider all of it's available options.
Who is eligible to vote in the consultative vote?
All BMA members who are resident doctors working for NHS Scotland are eligible to vote. Please check your details to ensure you are registered as a resident doctor and that we have your current place of work details and email details. Anyone who is not a member will be able to vote if they join the BMA by mid-November.
Can university employed doctors or locum agency locums vote on this offer?
Only those who hold an NHS Scotland employment contract (including honorary contracts) can vote.
I am about to CCT and will no longer be a resident doctor by the end of the consultative vote period - can I vote?
Only those registered as BMA as resident doctor members working in Scotland will be eligible to vote.
What are opening and closing dates of the consultative vote? Will the consultative vote be postal or online?
The vote will open on Monday 28 October and will close on Monday 20 November. The consultative vote will be conducted online. You will receive a specific voting link via email to cast your vote.
What is the last date to be a member to be included in the consultative vote?
You must be a BMA member on or before 14 November to be able to participate in the consultative vote.
The pay offer for 2024/25 is describe as a cumulative uplift of 11% - is this a phased uplift?
The offer that we have negotiated is as follows:
- an initial 8.5% from 1st April 2024
- an additional 2.3% increase from 1 October, applied to the revised April payscale
- cumulatively, this would represent a total uplift to base salary of 11%.
Due to the phased uplift securing different amounts of backpay, our total in-year pay uplift from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 would be 10.3%. The final cumulative salary uplift – which is what is incorporated into overall pay every year, and therefore is what will get us to full pay restoration – would represent an increase of 11%.
Will the pay uplift apply to my banding supplements as well as basic pay?
Yes, as the contractual banding supplements are applied as a multiplier of your basic salary, then any change in the basic salary must trigger a change in your banding payments as well.
When will I receive the uplift?
BMA Scotland will work with Scottish Government to ensure the increase is applied to salaries as soon as practically possible. The back pay to 1 April 2024 will normally be paid in the month after the pay increase is received.
Is the aim still for full pay restoration?
BMA Scotland is committed to fully addressing the erosion of resident doctor pay by achieving full pay restoration. The 11% increase achieved for this year is significantly above inflation and builds on the agreement and pay award of last year, which had already begun to reverse the trend of pay erosion, and we continue to make demonstratable progress to maintain on the trajectory to full pay restoration.
How to vote
Civica are administering the consultative vote on behalf of BMA Scotland on the Scottish Government offer.
You will be sent information from Civica on the offer and how to vote, which will include a link that is unique to you and should not be forwarded on to anyone else. If anyone else uses your unique link, it will prevent you from voting. You will only be able to cast your vote once.
The deadline to join BMA to be able to take part is mid-November. Join to become a member.
Upcoming webinar
We will be arranging a webinar for members to hear full details of the offer and to answer any questions. Check back for details or, if you are a member, we will email you about this directly.
Still have questions?
If you have questions about the offer or about the ballot, please contact us.
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