Fairness for the Frontline: demanding a pay rise for NHS consultants

Consultants have given their all in leading the fight against COVID-19. Yet, their real terms pay has been slashed year-on-year. Add your voice to the campaign to start to restore the pay taken from consultants in England.
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After a year in which the NHS has experienced its greatest crisis, and in which consultants have been leading on the frontline since day one in the fight against COVID-19, it is time that consultants were rewarded fairly for the vital clinical leadership they bring to the NHS.

Consultants in England have seen their real term pay cut in some cases by 28.6%. Yet the Government’s recommended pay award for doctors in England this year is just 1%. This is nothing more than an insult and is in no way fair.

The public are behind us. In the results of a survey by BritainThinks, 62% of the public think consultants should get a pay rise. 72% of those support a pay rise of 3% or more.

That is why the BMA has launched Fairness for the Frontline.

 

Add your voice

Consultants have given their all in leading the fight against COVID-19. Yet, the Government’s pay uplift for consultants in England of 3% is nothing more than another real-terms pay cut. Tell us what you think by completing our survey.

Take the survey

 

Watch: webinar discussing what has happened to consultants' pay and pensions
Watch: webinar discussing what has happened to consultants' pay and pensions
What the BMA is asking for
  • A minimum 5% pay rise for consultants (rather than the derisory 1% pay uplift the Government has proposed).
  • That the Government reverse its decision of a freeze to pension lifetime allowance announced at this year’s budget.

Consultants' pay is continuing to decline

Since 2008/09 consultants have experienced around a 30% fall in real terms (accounting for estimated tax and pensions changes) take-home pay on average.

To put this into context, the estimated take-home pay for the average consultant in England in 2008/09 was £67,752. Taking inflation (RPI) into account, the average real terms value of that figure by 2019/20 was the equivalent of just £48,356.

Between 2008/09 and 2019/20, this represents a 28.6% real decline in the value of take-home pay (accounting for estimated tax and pension contribution changes) for the average consultant.

Independent analysis published by the DDRB (Doctor’s and Dentist’s Pay Review Body), comparing consultant pay with that of those working in tax and accounting, legal and actuarial groups, found that the median salary of consultants is 'substantially lower'.

Punitive pension tax charges are pushing consultants to leave the NHS

Pensions freeze triggers doctor exodus fears

The chancellor has imposed an ‘unfair tax’ on doctors – and a BMA survey reveals many now plan to leave the NHS before their expected retirement.

 Read article

We demand that the Government reverse its decision announced at this year’s Budget of a freeze to pension LTA (lifetime allowance).

The LTA, which imposes a limit on the total value of your pensions pot, was previously indexed to the consumer price index. Going over this limit triggers an additional tax charge for that individual.

The freezing of the LTA limit until April 2026 will have a significant impact on consultants who have any increase in pay. Consultants will be punished for gaining annual increases, getting a promotion, taking on additional responsibilities and doing additional shifts.

The BMA is now calling for the chancellor to reverse this decision and instead offer doctors, including consultants, a more flexible solution.

 

2021 BMA survey on lifetime allowance
72% of doctors would be more likely to retire because of this change
61% said they would be more likely to work fewer hours
41% said they would be more likely to give up additional responsibilities

Your FAQs on consultants' pay

Wondering if the public will support the campaign, or why doctors should be any different to other workers?

We have answered your questions on the changes made to consultants' pay and pensions in England, so you have all the facts.

Download FAQs