Resident doctor strikes cancelled as union recommends members accept new offer

Planned strike action by resident doctors next week has been cancelled to allow BMA Scotland to ballot members on a new £133 million offer from the Scottish Government.

The deal would see pay increase by around 8% on average over the next two years, mirroring a similar offer accepted by other NHS staff.

Resident doctors had voted to take strike action in the pay dispute, with walkouts planned to begin next week.

But Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the Scottish resident doctor committee, said the union is recommending members accept the new deal tabled by Health Secretary Neil Gray.

Mr Gray said cancellation of the strikes is “great news”, adding: “This avoids the cancelled operations and disruption to patient care that no-one, including resident doctors, wanted to see. Days of intensive and constructive talks have got us here and I thank the BMA, and my team, for getting us to this point.

“The combined offer will see the same pay deal which nurses and NHS support staff agreed. It also includes additional investment in contractual reform over the same period, providing a total investment of £133 million over this time.

“It further underlines our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement. I hope resident doctors will now vote to accept.”

Resident doctors have been campaigning in recent years for the Government to substantially hike pay, claiming wages had been eroded over the past almost two decades.

Dr Smith 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.”

He added: “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.”

Members of the union will be asked if the back the deal, though timings have not yet been made public.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said Scots will be “relieved” the strike action has been called off.

But he added: “The proposed offer will cost taxpayers a huge amount over the next two years.

“This has the potential to set a precedent that will embolden other unions in negotiations with SNP ministers in the future.

“Patients will also be worried that this money will mean fewer resources will be available for frontline care and to help reduce A&E waiting times and carry out operations in a timely fashion.

“John Swinney and Neil Gray must be straight with Scots ahead of Tuesday’s Budget. If this deal is accepted, where will the money come from to pay for it?”