Junior Doctors in England Approve Historic Pay Deal, Ending Lengthy NHS Strike

Junior doctors in England agree to new salary agreement

In England, junior doctors have agreed to a pay increase, with 66% in favor from a 69% participation rate, concluding the longest strike action in the history of the NHS. Now, a doctor beginning their NHS foundation training will earn an annual salary of £36,600.

Monday, September 16, 2024, at 8

Young physicians in England have agreed to a government proposal that increases their salaries by an average of 22.3% over a two-year period.

During the voting period from August 19 to September 15, out of the 45,830 participants, 66% supported the agreement, with a participation rate of 69%.

This concludes the most extended strike in NHS history, which has significantly involved junior doctors in recent times.

Dr. Robert Laurenson and Dr. Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors committee, stated: "Reaching this point should not have taken this much time… even one strike was excessive."

"This agreement signifies the conclusion of fifteen years of declining wages and initiates a two-year period of slight pay increases above the rate of inflation. However, there is still much progress to be made."

Over the past 22 months, junior doctors in England have gone on strike 11 times. During their most recent strike, which lasted from June 27 to July 2, NHS England reported that 61,989 appointments, procedures, and operations were disrupted.

The compensation increase averages about 22% and is divided into two components:

Further Details on NHS

NHS plans to deploy drones for transporting blood samples across London in a bid to bypass traffic congestion in an upcoming experiment.

Unprecedented levels of patients face over a month's delay for GP visits in 2023

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey claims NHS needs additional funding to cope with proposed Labour reforms.

Associated Subjects:

• An increase of 4.05%, resulting in a total of 13.2% for the fiscal year 2023/24, additional to the previously guaranteed 8.8% – effective retroactively from April 2023.

• An increase of 8% for the years 2024/25, which includes a 6% general pay scale rise along with an additional £

Annual base salary currently stands at £36,600

The agreement results in an initial salary boost for doctors entering foundation training within the NHS, raising their standard earnings to £36,600 from the previous approximately £32,400.

A full-time physician starting their specialty training is set to receive an increase in base salary from roughly £43,900 to £49,900.

The BMA contends that, despite the recent raise, doctors' salaries are still 20.8% lower in real terms than they were for a doctor in 2008.

Young physicians have been advocating for a 35% salary increase, arguing that their wages have not kept pace with inflation for the past 15 years.

The administration has announced plans to collaborate with junior doctors in efforts to improve the healthcare system and address additional concerns, such as training and work schedules.

Equitable Agreement for Patients and Physicians

Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated, "The financial burden on taxpayers has been significant… with £1.7 billion squandered on covering the expenses of strikes, resulting in more than 1.5 million surgeries, appointments, and procedures being postponed or called off.

"This agreement was appropriate and equitable, benefiting both patients and junior doctors. Importantly, it allows us to put an end to this prolonged conflict, so we can concentrate on reducing wait times and making necessary reforms to the NHS."

For an optimal video experience, we recommend using the Chrome browser.

A recent comprehensive analysis of the health service highlighted significant difficulties it is facing.

Sir Keir Starmer stated that the NHS needs to "reform or die" in response to Lord Darzi's critical report, which depicts a bleak outlook for the NHS.

Stay informed with the most recent updates from the UK and across the globe by tuning into Sky News.

Agreement offers 'assurance' for upcoming winter

Amanda Pritchard, the head of NHS England, commented: "Following unparalleled stretches of strikes, this deal is fantastic news for patients, physicians, and the broader NHS community.

"It offers reassuring stability as we approach a winter that is expected to be exceptionally difficult."

Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, expressed that health leaders will feel significantly relieved, yet he cautioned that much work remains to resolve the concerns brought up by resident doctors.

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Discover further details from Sky News: Prohibition of unhealthy food commercials prior to 9pm. Prime Minister agrees to tackle NHS issues. New critical analysis reveals NHS deficiencies.

The Conservative Party has previously voiced criticism against the government regarding the salary proposal made to junior doctors.

The government proposed pay increases for public sector workers that exceeded inflation rates, an initiative estimated to have incurred costs of £9.4 billion.

Away from the salary discussions, the BMA has announced that starting from 18 September, the title "junior doctors" in the UK will change to "resident doctors" to more accurately represent their skills.

Associated Subjects

Sky News Bottom Section

Information about Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Sky Networks

Additional Sky Websites