Junior doctor offered new pay deal in England

The government and the BMA trade union have struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.

The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee has agreed to put the offer to its members.

If accepted it would spell an end to long-running strike action which has led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments since March 2023.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce the terms of the deal in the Commons later.

The latest government offer is made up of a 4% backdated pay rise for 2023-24, on top of the existing increase worth an average of 9% for the last financial year.

An additional 6% increase is being offered for 2024-25, topped up with an extra £1,000 consolidated payment.

That brings the total over the two years to roughly 22%, on average, for each junior doctor.

The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee will recommend the offer to its members, who will then be asked to vote on the deal.

Junior doctors have been campaigning for a 35% pay increase to make up for what they say are years of below inflation pay rises.