British Medical Association accepts pay offer from Welsh Government
Consultants, junior doctors and specialists have agreed to offers made by ministers in Wales
Last updated 28th Jun 2024
The British Medical Association’s consultants, junior doctors and specialist doctors committees in Wales have all accepted a pay offer from the Welsh Government.
It's after members voted in favour of the deals, putting an end to the three separate pay disputes for doctors working in secondary care.
The offers are the result of weeks of pay negotiations which began in April after sustained pressure from BMA Cymru Wales including three strikes by junior doctors.
Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh Junior Doctors Committee said:
“This pay deal and the emphatic vote by members to accept it shows how far we have come on our journey to fight for the future of our profession. For too long, junior doctors have been undervalued.
“We chose to stand up and be counted, refusing to accept further cuts to our pay. While we are pleased with the progress we have made, the fight for full pay restoration is far from over”.
Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ Consultants committee said:
“We’re pleased to have been able to reach a fairer settlement for senior doctors in Wales and we hope that this significant offer will help to retain the doctors currently working in Wales as well as attracting more, which will ultimately be beneficial for patients”.
Dr Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ SAS doctor committee said:
“For far too long the invaluable contribution of SAS doctors in Wales has been disregarded and so reaching a fairer deal for this experienced part of the workforce is very much welcomed. We will continue to fight for the rights of SAS doctors”.
Eluned Morgan MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said:
"Further to our written statement on 7 June, we are pleased to confirm the pay offers we made to consultants, SAS doctors and junior doctors to end the strikes and settle the pay dispute in 2023-24, have been accepted.
"Each of the BMA’s three branches of practice voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the respective pay offers.
"We will now begin the process of implementing the pay award, so doctors and dentists employed in the NHS will receive the payments as soon as practicable.
"We would like to thank members of the BMA’s negotiating teams and NHS Wales Employers for the constructive nature of the talks. Implementing these offers will end this dispute and industrial action, meaning doctors will return to work in Wales for the benefit of the public and NHS services.
"The Welsh Government is fully committed to working in social partnership to deliver better working lives for all NHS staff and better public services for people in Wales."