Junior Doctors Accept 22.3% Pay Rise

👨‍⚕️ Junior Doctors Stop Strikes

Junior doctors in England have officially accepted a pay rise offer from the government, marking an end to the long-running strikes that have impacted the NHS over the past year. The deal, secured after months of negotiations with the British Medical Association (BMA), includes a 22.3% pay increase spread over two years. This agreement was supported by 66% of the BMA members who voted in favour of it, providing much-needed stability for both junior doctors and the wider healthcare system​.

💰 What’s in the Deal?

The pay rise includes an average 4.05% uplift for 2023/24, backdated to April 2023. For junior doctors, this translates to significant increases: a foundation year doctor’s pay will rise from £32,400 to £36,600, and those entering specialty training will see their salaries jump from £43,900 to £49,900.

🔄 Impact of Strikes

The strikes have been costly in more ways than one. Over 1.5 million patient appointments were canceled due to the industrial action, leading to delays in care. The strikes also came at a financial cost to taxpayers, estimated at £1.7 billion due to the impact on NHS operations​.

📊 Moving Forward: Cutting Waiting Lists and NHS Reform

This agreement marks the first step in the government’s mission to reduce waiting lists and push forward NHS reform. With junior doctors returning to work, the focus can now shift to addressing the backlog created by the strikes. Reducing waiting times for treatments and appointments will be a key priority moving forward, ensuring patients receive timely care once again.

Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:

Doctor Category	Old Pay (2023)	New Pay (2024)	Percentage Increase
Foundation Year 1 (FY1)	£32,400	£36,600	13%
Foundation Year 2 (FY2)	£36,400	£41,300	13.5%
Core Training (CT1-2)	£43,900	£49,900	13.7%
Specialty Registrar (ST3-7)	£50,000	£57,100	14.2%
GP Trainees	£39,000	£44,500	14.1%
Consultants (starting salary)	£88,364	£97,215	10%
Consultants (top of scale)	£119,133	£131,000	10%
GP Salaried (average)	£63,000	£70,200	11.4%

🔄 NHS Reform and Workforce Focus

💡 This marks a new chapter for both junior doctors and the NHS as they work together to rebuild and reform the health service. The pay increase is also part of broader NHS reforms that aim to tackle the backlog created during the strikes and improve workforce retention​. With junior doctors back at work, efforts will now focus on cutting waiting lists and ensuring smoother NHS operations going forward.