Memorandum of evidence to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration


September 2007

The annual pay increase for doctors in 2008 should be in the region of 3.6% and 4.3%, the BMA says in its evidence to the UK’s Doctors and Dentists Review Body. Such an award would be an appropriate settlement to protect the value of existing contracts relative to inflation.

In its evidence, the BMA also highlights the following:

GPs:
  • GPs received a zero award last year leading to an absolute and real decrease in net income
  • GP workload has become more intense and complex, consultations are longer, and practice expenses have increased
  • Last year’s award failed to protect the value of the new contract as the benefits were eroded
  • GPs cannot absorb the increasing costs of their practices if gross practice income remains static
GP Registrars:
  • The number of GP registrars fell by 11% in 2006 coinciding with a reduction in the GP registrar training supplement
  • Increases in the personal costs of training, such as fees for Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board applications and Royal College of General Practitioners examinations, have further reduced the disposable income of GP Registrars
  • If not addressed this reduction in salary will have a negative effect on recruitment into general practice
Staff grade and associate specialist (SAS) doctors:
  • Survey evidence shows SAS doctors are working additional unpaid hours
  • In the absence of a new contract pay has declined relative to other doctors
  • Without approval of the new SAS contract, an uplift in pay for SAS doctors will need to take place on existing contracts
Junior doctors:
  • The MMC/MTAS* arrangements for 2006 resulted in serious implications for job security for junior doctors and resulted in high levels of stress for many doctors in training
  • The basic starting salary for a new junior doctor is now lower than the average for graduates on other courses
  • The levels of student debt and personal costs incurred by junior doctors, as part of their training, have also increased significantly and must be reflected in this year’s pay award
Consultants:
  • Although the benefits of the new contract are now being realised, many consultants continue to work additional, unpaid hours
  • The value of Clinical Excellence Awards did not increase last year and it is important that this trend does not continue as it subverts the original intention of the scheme to value quality and excellence in clinical practice
  • The amount of non-clinical work has also increased for many consultants and this should be recognised
  • It is extremely concerning that, when surveyed, 56% of consultants said they would not recommend that their children study medicine. This is indicative of how frustrated senior doctors are feeling
Academic medicine:
  • Current academic workforce is only 83% of the number in 2000
  • Consultant clinical academics are among those doing the highest amount of unpaid NHS work
  • Under MMC/MTAS* arrangements academic posts were difficult to fill. In round 1 of applications only 57% of posts were filled compared to 85% for other posts
  • The shortage of clinical academics remains a problem and the BMA seeks continued support from the review body to ensure pay parity with NHS consultants and doctors in training.

    © British Medical Association 2008

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