Doctors set for inflation-busting pay rises
Doctors will be given inflation-busting pay rises of up to 6 per cent, ministers will announce today.
The pay award will see junior doctors, now rebranded as 'resident doctors' receiving the biggest award of all public sector workers, after threatening more strikes.
The medics, who are on starting salaries of £37,000, will receive a lift of between 5 and 6 per cent, depending on their grade.
This comes from a basic rise of 4 per cent, plus a consolidated sum of £750.
Millions of NHS workers will receive a rise of 3.6 per cent, just above inflation.
The deal given to resident doctors is by far the most generous.
It comes just months after the British Medical Association's members voted to accept a pay offer which gave them an average uplift of 22 per cent over two years.
That ended an 18 month dispute and 44 days of strike action.
Earlier this month, the BMA announced that resident doctors would again be balloted on strike action. Hospital leaders said they were 'alarmed' by the prospect, with the ballot due to open next week.
The gulf between the pay awards for doctors and nurses is likely to inflame tensions.
The Royal College of Nursing has already expressed anger at the prospect of again getting a lower pay rise than doctors, after nurses settled for 5.5 per cent last year.
Earlier this month the union said nurses could strike this summer if they are not awarded a 'significant' pay rise soon.
Addressing the union's annual congress Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary told the Government 'not to sail close to wind' and risk industrial action.
In the speech she told ministers: 'If you continue to insult this profession, leave it ailing and underpaid this summer then you know how this could escalate.'
It followed warnings that Labour risks a 'summer of discontent', with teachers, resident doctors, other NHS workers, civil servants and university staff all warning of potential industrial action over pay.
Nurses are being surveyed by the RCN on whether they approve of the Government's proposed figure and what action – including strikes – they are willing to take, although no official ballot is yet planned.
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