Junior doctors in England are understood to have been offered a 22 per cent pay rise over two years in a bid to resolve their long-running pay dispute with the Government.
The Times is reporting that the British Medical Association’s (BMA) junior doctors committee has recommended an offer to members.
It is understood to include a backdated pay rise of 4.05 per cent for 2023/24, on top of an existing increase of between 8.8 per cent and 10.3 per cent.
A further pay rise of six per cent for 2024/25 will also be topped up with a consolidated £1,000 payment, which is equivalent to a rise of between seven per cent and nine per cent.
The overall package represents a pay rise of about 22 per cent, according to The Times, which initially reported 20 per cent. The BMA confirmed to City A.M. the figure is set to be 22.3 per cent over 2 years.
Downing Street did not confirm or deny the reports.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “As we’ve said before, we’re committed to working to find a solution, resolving this dispute, but I can’t get into detailed running commentary on negotiations.
“We’ve been honest with the public and the sector about the economic circumstances we face.
“But the Government is determined to do the hard work necessary to finally bring these strikes to an end.”
Ministers entered formal negotiations with the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee days ago.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting had previously described talks as “a crucial step forward, as we work to end this dispute and change the way junior doctors are treated in the NHS”.
The official added the industrial action has been “hugely damaging both to patients and to the impact on the waiting lists and we’ve said we’re committed to finding a solution and resolving this dispute”.
Junior doctors in England have taken industrial action 11 times in the past 20 months.
Their last strike – which took place from June 27 to July 2, just days before the general election – affected 61,989 appointments, procedures and operations, according to NHS England.
Industrial action by a number of different NHS staff groups since December 2022 has led to the postponement of 1.5 million appointments, procedures and operations at an estimated cost to the NHS of more than £3 billion.
Meanwhile, cleaners, security guards and other workers employed by outsourcing giant ISS at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero voted to accept an improved pay offer, also.
The 60 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members will get an inflation-busting 4.125% rise as in addition to gaining the same leave entitlements for holidays and sick pay as those who are insourced.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “This significant win wouldn’t have occurred without the threat of sustained strike action from a group of members prepared to stand up for themselves.
“While we welcome the win and the move to parity on leave, we demand the government goes further and brings all outsourced workers back in-house on the same terms and conditions as their colleagues.”
The BMA has been approached for comment.
Storm Newton and Sophie Wingate, PA