NHS Scotland resident doctors accept 10.8% pay rise

Scotland’s junior doctors have voted to accept a pay offer from the Scottish Government.

The deal will see an 8.5% salary increase, backdated to April 1, 2024, and a further 2.3% effective from October 1, 2024.

The Scottish Government said the additional investment of £64.1m means the offer is the equivalent of a 10.8% rise.

The result of the consultative vote of BMA Scotland members saw 98.2% vote in favour of the offer, with a turnout of 64.1%

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the overwhelmingly backed result sent “clear messages” to the Scottish Government.

The association’s chair, Chris Smith, called the deal “another important step forward” for junior doctors.

He said: “Today is another important step forward for Scottish resident doctors, but there is still significant work to be done to achieve full pay restoration, which is a vital step towards keeping the doctors we need in Scotland for the benefit of the NHS and ultimately patients.

“This result sends two clear messages to the Scottish Government.

“Firstly, that doctors are united behind their union and the campaign for full pay restoration. Secondly, it shows that the framework deal agreed in 23-24 – and built on with this accepted deal for 24-25 – is essential to moving forwards constructively.

“The Scottish Government must continue to build on the agreements that we have reached so that doctors have confidence that our current trajectory towards full pay restoration – and the true recognition of our skills, sacrifices, and responsibility – is satisfactory and sustainable.

“We are still only around halfway towards rectifying the historic pay erosion inflicted on Scottish resident doctors.

“We have had two years of solid progress, but if the Scottish Government were to slow down or become complacent now, it would be extremely damaging for relations with the medical profession and therefore for what the health service is able to deliver for patients.

“To be clear, while we have so far seen negotiations conducted robustly, but in good faith, any signs that progress is starting to slow or stop in coming years will be met with a resolute and united profession clear in its view that the deal done simply must be delivered in full.”

📢 NEWS: Resident doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept the pay offer negotiated with @scotgov

98.2% of the 61.4% of members who voted said yes.

Read more from SRDC chair @ChrisSmith2211 ⬇️https://t.co/vg7xE0knUi
— BMA Scotland (@BMAScotland) November 21, 2024

The new pay deal for resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, means those at the start of their career will receive a salary increase of £3,418 in 2024-25. For a doctor at the end of their training, the rise will be £7,088 over the same period.

A dentist in training at the beginning of their career will receive a salary increase of £4,239 in 2024-25. For those at the end of their training, the rise will be £5,902 over the same period.

It comes after consultant doctors accepted the equivalent of an 10.5% rise, following a “formal dispute” with the Scottish Government.

Health secretary Neil Gray said NHS Scotland remains “the place of choice to work and train” after resident doctors and dentists in training accepted the package.

Mr Gray said: “I am very pleased that Resident Doctors, and Dentists in Training have voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer. This demonstrates how much we value them and ensures that NHS Scotland remains the place of choice to work and train.

“I am pleased we have been able to work together to honour the previous agreement from 2023-24, and I extend my sincere thanks to our hard-working Resident Doctors and Dentists in Training.”