The Scottish Government will need to improve on the recommendations made by the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB), to deliver pay rises that do not negatively impact on the morale and the retention of doctors, BMA Scotland chair, Dr Iain Kennedy said today.
The DDRB has recommended a pay rise of 4%, which provides the starting point for discussions between BMA Scotland and the Scottish Government for most doctors. Resident doctors in Scotland are not part of the DDRB process due to their specific agreement with the Scottish Government made two years ago.
Individual decisions on next steps will now be taken by the BMA Scotland committees which represent different parts of the profession, in consultation with the wider membership.
Dr Kennedy said:
“Today’s recommendation by the DDRB will be deeply disappointing to many doctors, particularly given recent rises in inflation which wipe out the proposed increase.
“The decisions on next steps will now lie with individual Branch of Practices – with relevant committees working with our membership to determine their course of action.
“But given the historic years of pay erosion all doctors have suffered, there will be serious questions about whether these recommendation go anywhere near far enough to restore our pay to where it should be. Indeed, these recommendations will need to be improved upon by the Scottish Government if they are not to have a serious negative impact on the morale and crucially retention of doctors in Scotland.
“Consultant, Specialty and Specialist (SAS) doctors will be seeking urgent discussions with the Scottish Government and we will be rapidly surveying these members to inform our position. Progress made for consultants last year must not be lost by a poor uplift this year, while SAS doctors only narrowly accepted last year’s award and will be seeking considerable improvements.
“Resident doctors’ original agreement made with the Scottish Government to avert strike action two years ago means they are not part of the DDRB process. Therefore, it is vital their direct negotiations with the Scottish Government start soon and deliver as they have in the recent past and in line with the agreement made, by restoring resident doctors’ pay back to 2008 levels by the end of the current multi-year pay deal.
“Last year GPs were left seriously disappointed by both the DDRB recommendation and the pay uplift. Failure to acknowledge this by the DDRB is likely to just compound those feelings in a part of the profession that is desperately struggling.
“This year, in addition to a pay uplift that addresses the failings of previous years, we are pursuing full funding restoration for all GP practices in Scotland. Full funding restoration goes substantially beyond the inadequate pay uplifts of recent years as we must fill the funding gap of £290m that has developed for practices due to eroded funding and new cost pressures, massively impacting on services across Scotland.”
Commenting further on the overall position, Dr Kennedy continued:
“While there has been progress on pay for some parts of the profession over recent years, we now need to look to build upon this for doctors at all stages of their careers. That is the only way we can deliver the medical staffing the NHS needs for the future and ensure Scotland is an attractive and globally competitive country in which to practice medicine.
“To put this into perspective, historically all doctors have faced years of pay erosion, while their jobs have only become harder, working in a system that’s failing around them.
“Consultant vacancies stand at around 14.3%, one in four SAS posts are vacant, GP WTE numbers are falling and persistent rota gaps make resident doctor lives incredibly tough. Our survey data has shown that our members in Scotland fear there aren’t enough doctors to meet patient demand in the longer-term.
“So, investing sufficiently and strongly in the medical workforce both now and for the future is as vital as it has ever been, and I urge the Scottish Government to deliver on that by getting down to the serious negotiations with all parts of the profession that are required.”
Notes to editors
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.