- Around 150,000 NHS doctors in England, including doctors in
training and consultants, will start to receive their pay rise
this month, backdated to April 2023
- Accepting the recommendations of the independent pay review
bodies in full means first year doctors in training will receive
a 10.3% pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting
8.8%, and consultants will receive 6%
- This award is final and the Health and Social Care Secretary
has urged the BMA to call off strike action and end disruption to
care
This month, around 150,000 NHS doctors will start to receive a
pay rise after the government accepted the recommendations of the
Independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration’s
(DDRB).
As part of the award, doctors covered by the review body, which
includes doctors in training, consultants, Speciality and
Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors and dentists, will receive
their pay rise backdated to April. This pay rise balances the
need to keep inflation in check while giving staff significant
pay increases.
First year doctors in training will receive a 10.3% uplift. This
means basic pay for a first year junior doctor will increase from
£29,300 to £32,300. For a junior doctor in core training with 3
years’ experience, it will increase from £40,200 to £43,900.
Pay scales for consultants are also increasing by 6%, meaning
starting basic full-time pay will rise to £93,600. Taken together
with on-call payments and other activities, the average
consultant’s NHS earnings will increase to £134,000 a year. This
is in addition to their 4.5% pay rise last year and significant
pension reforms which saw the annual allowance for tax-free
pension saving increasing by 50% to £60,000 and removing the £1
million lifetime cap.
Some staff will also benefit from performance pay, overtime, pay
progression and pay rises from promotion, alongside the pay
uplift.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“I hugely value the work of NHS staff, and we’re giving junior
doctors, consultants and senior NHS staff a fair pay rise as
recommended by the independent pay review bodies - which is above
what most in the public and private sectors are receiving.
“We have worked at speed to ensure they will start receiving this
in their pay packets this month. I’ve been clear this pay award
is final and I urge the BMA to end its callous and calculated
strike action – these are only serving to lengthen waiting lists,
harm patients and put more pressure on their colleagues.”
The government is funding this pay award through prioritisation
within existing departmental budgets, with frontline services
being protected. More borrowing would add pressures on inflation
at exactly the wrong time, risking higher interest rates and
higher mortgage rates.
More widely, and alongside the pension tax reforms announced at
budget, the government is implementing new retirement
flexibilities to help retain experienced doctors, whilst making
it easier and attractive for retired staff to return.
From 1 April 2023, restrictions were lifted on the amount of work
that staff can do if they return to service after retirement, and
allowed staff who retire and return to re-join the scheme and
build more pension. From 1 October 2023, a further partial
retirement option for staff will be introduced which will allow
them to claim a portion of their pension benefits but continue
working and building further pension.
This means more clinicians to provide appointments, ease winter
pressures and deliver care to patients, as well the retention of
crucial knowledge and experience to ensure patients are receiving
first class care.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
