BMA Scotland will be conducting a consultative vote for SAS doctors in Scotland, which will open on 13 January and close on 27 January at 12 midday.
Key points at a glance
- £7.2million investment in SAS pay for 2024/25, made up of:
- 6% pay uplift for Specialty Doctors on the 2022 and 2008 contracts, and for Associate Specialists on the 2008 AS contract. This uplift is the recommendation made by DDRB in its 2024 report
- Increasing pay rates for Specialist doctors by 10.07% for the first pay point and by 7.14% for pay points 2 and 3. This brings the pay rates for Specialists in Scotland in line with the pay rates in England.
- If accepted, the uplift would be backdated to 1 April 2024.
- This offer applies to all NHS Scotland SAS doctors and hospital dentists.
- The proposed pay scale for Specialty Doctors keeps pay slightly ahead of England, Wales and Northern Ireland at all scale points. As noted above, the Specialist pay scale would be the same as in the other UK nations.
- A commitment to develop a policy to provide a mechanism for regrading from Specialty Doctor to Specialist, consistent with policies in other UK nations.
This is the best offer we were able to achieve in negotiations but the Scottish SAS Committee is unable to recommend it and is therefore putting the offer forward on a neutral basis.
New pay scale
If accepted, all Specialty doctors would receive a pay uplift of 6% as a result of the offer. The tables below show the proposed 2024/25 salaries for the 2022 and 2008 contracts.
Specialty Doctors – 2022 contract – proposed new pay scale
| Scale point (seniority) | Pay point | 2023/24 pay scale | Proposed 2024/25 pay scale | % Uplift | £ Uplift per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 58,198 | 61,690 | 6% | 3,492 |
| 1 | 1 | 58,198 | 61,690 | 6% | 3,492 |
| 2 | 1 | 58,198 | 61,690 | 6% | 3,492 |
| 3 | 2 | 69,427 | 73,593 | 6% | 4,166 |
| 4 | 2 | 69,427 | 73,593 | 6% | 4,166 |
| 5 | 2 | 69,427 | 73,593 | 6% | 4,166 |
| 6 | 3 | 73,678 | 78,099 | 6% | 4,421 |
| 7 | 3 | 73,678 | 78,099 | 6% | 4,421 |
| 8 | 3 | 73,678 | 78,099 | 6% | 4,421 |
| 9 | 4 | 82,184 | 87,115 | 6% | 4,931 |
| 10 | 4 | 82,184 | 87,115 | 6% | 4,931 |
| 11 | 4 | 82,184 | 87,115 | 6% | 4,931 |
| 12 | 5 | 90,688 | 96,129 | 6% | 5,441 |
Comparison of Specialty Doctor (2022 contract) with other UK nations
2008 Specialty Doctor contract – proposed pay scale
| Scale point (seniority) | Pay point | 2023/24 pay scale | Proposed 2024/25 pay scale | % Uplift | £ Uplift per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 47,905 | 50,779 | 6% | £2,874 |
| 1 | 1 | 52,001 | 55,121 | 6% | £3,120 |
| 2 | 2 | 57,325 | 60,765 | 6% | £3,400 |
| 3 | 3 | 60,179 | 63,790 | 6% | £3,611 |
| 4 | 4 | 64,291 | 68,148 | 6% | £3,857 |
| 5 | 5 | 68,387 | 72,490 | 6% | £4,103 |
| 6 | 5 | 68,387 | 72,490 | 6% | £4,103 |
| 7 | 6 | 72,574 | 76,928 | 6% | £4,354 |
| 8 | 6 | 72,574 | 76,928 | 6% | £4,354 |
| 9 | 7 | 76,764 | 81,370 | 6% | £4,606 |
| 10 | 7 | 76,764 | 81,370 | 6% | £4,606 |
| 11 | 8 | 80,953 | 85,810 | 6% | £4,857 |
| 12 | 8 | 80,953 | 85,810 | 6% | £4,857 |
| 13 | 8 | 80,953 | 85,810 | 6% | £4,857 |
| 14 | 9 | 85,141 | 90,249 | 6% | £5,108 |
| 15 | 9 | 85,141 | 90,249 | 6% | £5,108 |
| 16 | 9 | 85,141 | 90,249 | 6% | £5,108 |
| 17 | 10 | 89,329 | 94,689 | 6% | £5,360 |
Specialist 2022 contract – proposed pay scale
| Scale point (seniority) | Pay point | 2023/24 pay scale | Proposed 2024/25 pay scale | % Uplift | £ Uplift per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 88,118 | 96,990 | 10.07% | £8,872 |
| 1 | 1 | 88,118 | 96,990 | 10.07% | £8,872 |
| 2 | 1 | 88,118 | 96,990 | 10.07% | £8,872 |
| 3 | 2 | 94,065 | 100,784 | 7.14% | £6,719 |
| 4 | 2 | 94,065 | 100,784 | 7.14% | £6,719 |
| 5 | 2 | 94,065 | 100,784 | 7.14% | £6,719 |
| 6 | 3 | 100,011 | 107,154 | 7.14% | £7,413 |
2008 Associate Specialist contract – proposed pay scale
| Scale point (seniority) | Pay point | 2023/24 pay scale | Proposed 2024/25 pay scale | % Uplift | £ Uplift per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 67,163 | 71,193 | 6% | 4,030 |
| 1 | 1 | 72,562 | 76,916 | 6% | 4,354 |
| 2 | 2 | 77,959 | 82,637 | 6% | 4,678 |
| 3 | 3 | 85,088 | 90,193 | 6% | 5,105 |
| 4 | 4 | 91,265 | 96,741 | 6% | 5,476 |
| 5 | 5 | 93,829 | 99,459 | 6% | 5,630 |
| 6 | 5 | 93,829 | 99,459 | 6% | 5,630 |
| 7 | 6 | 97,174 | 103,004 | 6% | 5,830 |
| 8 | 6 | 97,174 | 103,004 | 6% | 5,830 |
| 9 | 7 | 99,513 | 105,484 | 6% | 5,971 |
| 10 | 7 | 99,513 | 105,484 | 6% | 5,971 |
| 11 | 8 | 102,762 | 108,928 | 6% | 6,166 |
| 12 | 8 | 102,762 | 108,928 | 6% | 6,166 |
| 13 | 8 | 102,762 | 108,928 | 6% | 6,166 |
| 14 | 9 | 106,009 | 112,370 | 6% | 6,361 |
| 15 | 9 | 106,009 | 112,370 | 6% | 6,361 |
| 16 | 9 | 106,009 | 112,370 | 6% | 6,361 |
| 17 | 10 | 109,259 | 115,815 | 6% | 6,556 |
Regrading from Specialty Doctor to Specialist
The offer includes a commitment to develop a policy, jointly with NHS employers and BMA Scotland, to provide a mechanism for progression from the Specialty Doctor grade to Specialist.
This would be available to all Specialty Doctors on the 2022 or 2008 contracts, would come in to effect on 1 August 2025 and would be an ongoing process with a change to the Specialty Doctors 2022 terms and conditions of service.
The principles of the policy would be to help improve career progression for Specialty Doctors, to improve retention of SAS doctors as senior doctors in our hospitals, and to assist with delivery of NHS Scotland service needs.
Guidance will be developed jointly with Scottish Government, BMA Scotland and NHS Scotland employers to support the process for progression. The aim will be to align the process as closely as possible with similar processes in the other UK nations.
Full details of the process are still to be discussed and agreed.
Other elements of the deal
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As highlighted above, development of a policy to provide a mechanism for regrading from Specialty Doctor to Specialist
-
As part of this agreement there is a commitment to include SAS as part of the task and finish group under the Joint Negotiation Committee between Scottish Government, BMA Scotland and NHS Employers to look at agreeing a national rate for internal short term cover to improve continuity of care and help alleviate agency and locum spend within NHS Scotland. This group was formed as part of the Scottish consultant pay offer, and Scottish Government are now offering to include SAS in these discussions.
-
BMA Scotland will agree not to promote the SAS rate card while the consultative ballot is underway. If the offer is accepted by the membership, BMA Scotland will withdraw the rate card immediately. BMA Scotland will reserve the right to reintroduce the SAS rate card if an agreement cannot be reached in respect of a national rate for short term cover or in the event of a future industrial dispute.
-
Agree to participate in the reformed DDRB process, which Scottish Government fully supports, for the 2025/26 pay round. The BMA do however reserve the right to seek direct pay negotiations with Scottish Government and withdraw from the DDRB process in the future
Read the full Scottish Government offer
How we got here
For many years, Scottish SAS doctors have been working harder and longer, with more complex cases in a much more challenging environment, whilst a crisis built in the health service.
Since the financial crisis in 2008, all doctors have experienced real terms pay detriment, with repeated pay freezes, pay caps and sub inflation pay uplifts, all at a time when inflation has run much higher.
The Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body (DDRB) recommendations over many years were normally sub-inflationary which meant that doctors in Scotland suffered considerable pay erosion. As a result of this, the Scottish Consultants committee (SCC) decided not to participate in the DDRB process in 2024, and instead sought direct pay negotiations with Scottish Government.
The initial approach to Scottish Government was made in November 2023, but the first formal negotiating meeting was not held until 5 September 2024. A series of meetings with the Cabinet Secretary and between BMA and Scottish Government officials took place between September and November to try and improve on the initial offer. The pay uplift offer was not improved but there was movement to include discussions on the process for regrading from Specialty Doctor to Specialist.
An emergency meeting of SSASC was held on 28 November where the final offer from Scottish Government was discussed. SSASC agreed to put the offer to SAS doctors in Scotland to vote on whether to accept or reject the offer, but not to make any recommendation on acceptance or rejection.
The outcome of the consultative vote is not binding on the committee, but SSASC will consider the result after the vote closes and discuss next steps.
DDRB
The BMA has longstanding concerns about the effectiveness and independence of the DDRB, the pay review body responsible for reviewing doctors' pay and recommending annual uplifts.
The Scottish Government supports the reforms secured by our colleagues in the UK consultants committee to the DDRB process for 2025/26. As outlined in the offer detail above, if accepted then SSASC will participate in the reformed DDRB process for the 2025/26 pay round and to utilise this process as a basis for further discussion to establish a financially sustainable mechanism for Scottish Government to tackle pay erosion for SAS doctors in Scotland. We do however reserve the right to seek direct pay negotiations with Scottish Government and withdraw from the DDRB process in the future.
Your questions answered
What happens if SAS doctors vote to accept the deal?
SSASC will advise Scottish Government that the deal has been accepted and both parties will then work together to implement the new pay scales as quickly as possible, and to agree the process for regrading to Specialist.
Why is SSASC not recommending SAS doctors accept this offer?
SSASC is disappointed that the Scottish Government did not value SAS doctors sufficiently to match the offers made to Scottish consultants and resident doctors. However, consultant and resident doctors have not had a new contract in many years and therefore have suffered more pay erosion than SAS doctors on the 2022 contract. The Scottish Government view is that the offer is fair, maintains parity with the other UK nations and follows the substantial investment in SAS pay with the 2022 contracts.
What happens if SAS members vote to reject the deal?
SSASC will have to consider possible next steps if the membership reject the offer. One option would be to enter a formal dispute with the Scottish Government and ask members to vote on industrial action.
I’m a Specialty Doctor at the top of the pay scale and working at a level I believe to be that of a Specialist. How do I get regraded to Specialist?
The details of the process for regrading are still to be agreed. The proposed start date is 1 August 2025 and BMA Scotland will work with Scottish Government and NHS Scotland employers as quickly as possible to agree the details of the process and to ensure that it is as straightforward as possible and in line with processes in England and Wales.
Why has it taken so long to get this deal?
The pay talks have been protracted; we first asked to discuss 2024 pay in November 2023 but the first full, formal negotiating meeting did not take place until 5 September 2024. Since then we have had a number of meetings with the Cabinet Secretary and Scottish Government. As well as the percentage uplift, it has taken some effort to be able to agree to discuss a process for progression from Specialty Doctor to Specialist. We know this has been a sticking point for many members, and we hope that being able to include this within the deal will be positive, particularly as it will apply to Specialty Doctors on both the 2022 and 2008 contracts.
Who is eligible to vote in the ballot?
All BMA members who are SAS doctors working for NHS Scotland are eligible to vote. Please check that we have your correct home and work address and email details. Anyone who is not a member will be able to vote if they join the BMA by 22 January.
When will I receive the uplift?
If members vote to accept the offer and the SSASC committee endorses the result, then BMA Scotland will work with Scottish Government to ensure the increase is applied to salaries as soon as practically possible. The back pay to 1st April 2024 will normally be paid in the month after the pay increase is received.
What about the DDRB uplift for 2024/25?
DDRB recommended a 6% uplift for 2024 and this offer from the Scottish Government accepts the DDRB recommendation.
How to vote
Civica are administering the consultative vote on behalf of BMA Scotland on the Scottish Government offer for SAS doctors in Scotland.
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 vote opened on 13 January and will close on 27 January at 12 midday. If you are eligible to vote and have not received your voting link, please fill in our replacement form.
You must be a BMA member by 22 January to be able to take part in the ballot. Join to become a member.
Webinar
A webinar for SAS doctors has been arranged for Monday 13 January 2025 (the day the vote opens) at 7pm to give an opportunity to hear more about the offer and have your questions answered.
Questions
If you have any questions about the offer or about the ballot, please contact us on [email protected]
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