More strike misery on the way as NHS consultants BMA reject pay offer from the government and demand more cash
NHS consultants are set to go back on strike after rejecting a pay offer from the government and demanding more cash.
A deal that would have seen their starting salaries surge to £100,000 was shot down this week after a five-week members' vote.
Some of the stubborn docs would have bagged an extra £19,000 per year if they had said yes.
The breakdown puts consultants back in the fray with junior doctors, who are still rowing with ministers over pay.
Nurses, paramedics and support staff all settled on a pay rise last year.
The agreement sought to reform the pay structure for senior doctors, known as consultants, reducing the number of pay brackets and the time it takes to reach the top and making a clearer link between pay progression and experience.
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The doctors, also known as consultants, voted 51.1 per cent against the pay offer, the British Medical Association (BMA) said.
"The vote has shown that consultants do not feel the current offer goes far enough to end the current dispute and offer a long-term solution to the recruitment and retention crisis for senior doctors," BMA consultants committee chair Vishal Sharma said.
"It backs up conversations we've had with colleagues in recent weeks, who felt the changes were insufficient and did not give them confidence that pay erosion would be addressed over the coming years.
"In addition, they were concerned about the fairness of the offer and how it impacted different groups of doctors.
"There were also clear concerns about changes to professional development time, and time dedicated to teaching and research.
"However, with the result so close, the consultants committee is giving the Government a chance to improve the offer.
"In the coming days we will be further engaging with consultants, and seeking talks with Government to explore whether the concerns expressed by our members during the referendum process can be addressed."
Consultants' strikes have been smaller than junior docs' but are still tough for hospitals because they are needed to supervise nurses and other doctors.
Around 8,500 consultants took part in four walkouts over 10 days between July and October, including four days of joint strikes with junior doctors.
Under the rejected deal the starting salary for a first-year consultant would have increased from £88,000 in 2022 to £99,532.
Top-end pay would have risen from £119,000 to £131,964 - with many also earning extra from bonuses, overtime and private work.