Home / Health / Doctors' Pay: Unions Slam 'Derisory' 2.4% Rise as Pay Cut
Doctors' Pay: Unions Slam 'Derisory' 2.4% Rise as Pay Cut
20 Oct
Summary
- Unions criticize the proposed 2.4% pay rise for doctors as insufficient.
- The BMA stated this increase amounts to a pay cut for medical professionals.
- NHS staff are concerned about an insulting rise amidst rising living costs.
Unions have voiced strong opposition to the government's proposed 2.4% pay increase for doctors, denouncing it as 'derisory' and an 'insulting' offer. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England presented this figure to an advisory panel for the 2027/28 financial year. The British Medical Association (BMA) has characterized the proposed rise as a significant 'pay cut' for medical professionals.
Dr. Tom Dolphin of the BMA expressed disbelief that such an offer is being considered while patient care challenges persist and waiting lists are growing. He emphasized that doctors' pay has declined considerably over the last twenty years, falling behind other professions. Helga Pile from Unison pointed out that numerous NHS staff earn below the real living wage, adding to the frustration over the proposed increase.
The unions are urging the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB) to consider the broader needs of the NHS and patients. They warn that failing to adequately value and compensate the medical workforce risks further industrial action and the loss of doctors, thereby deepening the ongoing crisis within the NHS.
