Resident doctors across Scotland will vote on a new pay offer after the BMA concluded negotiations with the Scottish Government today.
As a result, strikes planned for next week have been suspended pending the result of the vote, which will open in coming weeks.
The offer, which the Scottish Resident Doctor Committee (SRDC) is recommending members accept, comes in the form of investment into pay and reform of the resident doctors’ contract over this year and next.
If accepted, it will move all resident doctors in Scotland up the pay scale and is the equivalent of an average end-of -year pay uplift for 2025/26 of 9.9% and for 2026/27 of 9.4%.
As this is contract investment, if implemented it will impact doctors slightly differently depending where they are currently are on the pay scale, with the uplifts in pay ranging from 12.65% and 8.56% in the first year, and 12.1% to 8.04% in the following 12 months.
It is based on total funding of £149 million over the two years.
Welcoming the offer, Dr Chris Smith, Chair of SRDC, said:
“From day one of this dispute, we’ve been clear that strike action was a last resort, so we are pleased that after a period of intense negotiations we have agreed an offer which we believe now faithfully delivers on the deal we made with the Scottish Government nearly three years ago.
“The ultimate verdict on whether that is the case now lies with our members, but we will be recommending they accept.
“Our view is the substantial investment proposed continues the progress made to reverse the pay erosion resident doctors have suffered since 2008.
“Coming in the shape of new funding into our contract means that if accepted, this deal embeds improvements for doctors for the future. It will provide much needed impetus into delivering a new contract for resident doctors that was a key part of the deal agreed with the Scottish Government in 2023.
“Ultimately, this offer is a vote of confidence in, and a signal of the vital importance of, resident doctors. It is an investment in the future of the NHS workforce and will be good for doctors, but also for patients, as we seek to recruit and retain the workforce both for today and the future. It is, in our view, a strong step on the way to achieving our shared ambition with the Scottish Government, of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.
“It doesn’t end the need for full pay restoration, but if resident doctors vote in favour, it makes considerable further progress on our journey to restore our pay to 2008 levels. There can be no complacency even if the vote goes in favour of this deal: we need to see progress in areas like job availability and training bottlenecks. But it shows yet again the undeniable fact that we are not worth less than we were 18 years ago; that the levels of pay erosion we suffered were not justified, but that through constructive negotiation and compromise, we can make real progress towards righting that historic wrong.”
Notes to editors
BMA Scotland has suspended resident doctor strikes which were due to take place between Tues 13th and Saturday 18th of January.
The total investment in both pay and contract reform over the two year period is £133 million with an additional £16 million in 2026/27 to support a further pay point increase in the event that a new contract is not yet in place by 1st December 2026.
Further background to the dispute available here: Scottish Resident Doctors to be Balloted for Strike as Scottish Government Breaks Deal
Details of the vote on the offer will be confirmed in due course. The strike mandate secured in the ballot that took place last year runs until June.
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.