The government has offered junior doctors in England a 22.3% pay rise to end strike action.
The British Medical Association’s (BMA) junior doctors committee has agreed to put the offer to its members, and if it is accepted it will end months of walkouts over pay.
The pay rise offer will take place over two years, according to The Times.
It constitutes a pay rise of between 8.1% and 10.3% as well as a backdated 4.05% increase for 2023-24.
That is on top of a 6% pay rise for 2024-2025, topped up by a £1,000 payment – an equivalent to a pay rise of between 7% and 9%.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce the pay rises this afternoon when she makes a major speech about spending cuts to plug what she says is a “£20bn black hole” inherited from the Conservative government.
Junior doctors had been pushing for a 35% pay rise to make up for what they say is 15 years of below inflation salary increases.
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The prime minister’s spokesman said the government was “committed to working to find a solution”.
“We’ve been honest with the public and the sector about the economic circumstances we face,” he added.
“But the government is determined to do the hard work necessary to finally bring these strikes to an end.”
The official added the industrial action has been “hugely damaging both to patients and to the impact on the waiting lists and we’ve said we’re committed to finding a solution and resolving this dispute.”
Junior doctors last went on strike on the day of the election, on 4 July, after independent arbitration they had agreed would take place in May with the last government was scrapped when the election was called.
Last year, the BMA walked out of talks with the Conservative government in which an extra 3% pay rise on top of an average 9% increase for 2022-23 was discussed.
Junior doctors are any doctor below consultant level, and make up nearly half of the NHS’ medical workforce so strike days have caused major disruption.
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