A strike by resident doctors in Scotland has been suspended after the BMA concluded negotiations with the Scottish Government.
Doctors were due to walk out between Tuesday, January 13 and Saturday, January 18 but negotiations have now led to a vote, which will open in the coming weeks.
The Scottish Resident Doctor Committee (SRDC) is recommending that members accept the deal.
It comes in the form of investment into pay and reform of the resident doctors’ contract over this year and next.
If accepted, it will move all resident doctors in Scotland up the pay scale and is the equivalent of an average end-of-year pay uplift for 2025/26 of 9.9% and for 2026/27 of 9.4%.
If implemented, it will impact doctors slightly differently depending where they are currently are on the pay scale, with the uplifts in pay ranging from 12.65% and 8.56% in the first year, and 12.1% to 8.04% in the following 12 months.
It is based on total funding of £149m over the two years.
Earlier this week, First Minister John Swinney said he was “anxious” to end the dispute.
Dr Chris Smith, chair of SRDC, said: “From day one of this dispute, we’ve been clear that strike action was a last resort, so we are pleased that after a period of intense negotiations, we have agreed an offer which we believe now faithfully delivers on the deal we made with the Scottish Government nearly three years ago.
“The ultimate verdict on whether that is the case now lies with our members, but we will be recommending they accept.
“Our view is the substantial investment proposed continues the progress made to reverse the pay erosion resident doctors have suffered since 2008.
“Coming in the shape of new funding into our contract means that if accepted, this deal embeds improvements for doctors for the future. It will provide much needed impetus into delivering a new contract for resident doctors that was a key part of the deal agreed with the Scottish Government in 2023.
“Ultimately, this offer is a vote of confidence in, and a signal of the vital importance of, resident doctors. It is an investment in the future of the NHS workforce and will be good for doctors, but also for patients, as we seek to recruit and retain the workforce both for today and the future.
“It is, in our view, a strong step on the way to achieving our shared ambition with the Scottish Government, of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.
“It doesn’t end the need for full pay restoration, but if resident doctors vote in favour, it makes considerable further progress on our journey to restore our pay to 2008 levels.
“There can be no complacency even if the vote goes in favour of this deal: we need to see progress in areas like job availability and training bottlenecks.
“But it shows yet again the undeniable fact that we are not worth less than we were 18 years ago; that the levels of pay erosion we suffered were not justified, but that through constructive negotiation and compromise, we can make real progress towards righting that historic wrong.”
Health secretary Neil Gray said: “It is great news that we have reached an agreement that has allowed next week’s industrial action to be halted.
“This avoids the cancelled operations and disruption to patient care that no one, including resident doctors, wanted to see. Days of intensive and constructive talks have got us here and I thank the BMA, and my team, for getting us to this point.
“The combined offer will see the same pay deal which nurses and NHS support staff agreed. It also includes additional investment in contractual reform over the same period, providing a total investment of £133m over this time.
“It further underlines our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement. I hope resident doctors will now vote to accept.”
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