New polling¹ shows the public value senior doctors working in the NHS, with almost 9 in 10 saying they believe competitive pay is crucial to keep them working here.

The findings come as the BMA continues to ballot consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors in England for industrial action.

Both groups are campaigning for the reversal of real-terms pay cuts as well as improvements to their working lives to keep senior doctors in the workforce and ensure they are able to offer patients the best care possible².

Pay for a consultant in England can be as much as half of that for a consultant in the Republic of Ireland³. With this in mind, alongside the context of the waiting list in England of around 7 million, respondents to the poll were asked how important they felt it was for the Government to offer competitive pay to recruit and keep senior doctors in the NHS. Eighty-seven per cent said it was important⁴.

Meanwhile, nine in 10 (89%) said it was important that a highly experienced doctor, such as a consultant or SAS doctor, oversees their treatment to ensure it is as safe as possible⁵.

An ad van sending a message to the Government from consultants and SAS doctors will be outside Parliament on Tuesday morning⁶.

BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Shanu Datta and Dr Helen Neary said:

“Clearly the public value our most senior and expert doctors, and know we need to pay them competitively to keep them in the NHS, so why don’t our politicians agree?

“When they’re in hospital, patients and their loved ones rightly want to know they are safe under the care of a senior, experienced clinician. But without supporting and recognising consultants, we risk losing them and the invaluable expertise they provide to the NHS and patients.

“There’s been a lot of talk about doctors leaving the UK for places like Australia and the Middle East, but we can look far closer to home for a country that risks tempting doctors with higher salaries – and it’s just a hop across the Irish Sea.

“We’re asking politicians to wake up to this risk, and work with us to reverse the persistent cuts to our pay and profession over the last decade and more. Not a day of industrial action has to take place, and the benefits of having a sustainable consultant workforce – to the NHS, to patients and to the public’s health – are clear.”

BMA SAS committee chair Dr Ujwalla Mohite said:

“SAS doctors are a crucial part of the senior medical workforce, providing lifesaving and life-improving care in hospitals every day. The public are clearly reassured by having senior doctors overseeing their treatments and care, but for too long we have been overlooked and undervalued by successive governments.

“Alongside our consultant colleagues we are appealing to the Government not to take our contribution for granted – especially when we have a waiting list of more than 7 million.

“Ministers cannot expect to bring this waiting list down, while simultaneously disregarding the very doctors tasked with doing the work. The public can see this, why can’t they?”  

Ends

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.

1. 1,742 people in England took part in an independent survey commissioned by the BMA between 12 and 14 May.
2. The BMA’s consultants committee believes consultants need to have more protected time to focus on innovation, teaching future generations of clinicians and improving services for patients, a reduction in standard hours and better recognition for the most demanding out of hours work to reduce burnout and improve retention.
   The BMA’s SAS committee is seeking similar reforms for SAS doctors, as well as changes to ensure parity with other groups, and improvements to career progression.
   Both groups have seen their pay fall by around a quarter since 2008/09 and are calling for action to reverse this.
   Find more about the consultants’ campaign in England here.
   Find more about the SAS doctors’ campaign in England here.
3. In the Republic of Ireland, the basic pay for a consultant who has been working for five years is €286,151 – or £247,124 (€0.86 = £1). At the same point in their career, a consultant in England’s basic pay is £123,672.
   Source: HSE Ireland (p43), BMA.
4. Respondents were asked “Currently, the pay of an NHS consultant in England is half that of a consultant working in the Republic of Ireland. When there is a waiting list in England of 7.2 million people, how important do you feel it is for the Government to offer competitive pay to recruit and keep senior doctors in the NHS?” Of 1,742 respondents, 53% (920) said it was very important, 34% (590) said it was slightly important, 4% (71) said it was slightly unimportant, 3% (51) said it was very unimportant and 6% (111) said they didn’t know.
5. When asked “How important is it to you that a highly experienced doctor ie. a consultant or SAS doctor, oversees your treatment to ensure it is as safe as possible?”, of 1,742 respondents, 65% (1,137) said it was very important, 24% (346) said it was slightly important, 3% (57) said it was slightly unimportant, 3% (57) said it was very unimportant, and 5% (80) said they didn’t know.
6. The van will travel from Westminster Bridge to Parliament Square between 09:15 and 10:00 on Tuesday 9 June. The van will also be at BMA House, Tavistock Square, WC1H 9JP, between 11:00 and 11:30. 
   Media are welcome to film and photograph at both locations, with interviews with reps also available. Please contact the media office to express interest.