23.07.19
Pay rise announced for thousands of medical professionals
Thousands of NHS doctors and dentists are set to receive one of the biggest pay rises in a decade, the health and social care secretary has announced.
The announcement from Matt Hancock came in response to the 47th report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).
The increases for 2019 to 2020 will be between:
- £1,940 and £2,630 for consultants
- £970 and £1,820 for specialty doctors
- £1,360 and £2,250 for associate specialists
This will be backdated to April 2019.
The 2.5% pay rise for all consultants and dentists is part of the ambitions set out in the NHS Interim People Plan to make the NHS the best place to work. It is also intended to recognise their commitment to patients.
According to the government, all pay awards have been considered in light of wider pressures on public spending, ensuring that pay is fair for employees and taxpayers, while maintaining services that are affordable for the future.
READ MORE: Public support for NHS pay increase ‘overwhelming’
READ MORE: Almost 150,000 Scottish NHS staff offered 9% pay rise
Health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “Our NHS would be nothing without the hard work and commitment of its amazing staff.
“So we are supporting tens of thousands of doctors and dentists with one of the biggest pay rises for over a decade ‒ in recognition of their 24/7 dedication and compassion towards patients.”
In 2018, the government announced the largest pay rise in nearly a decade for almost one million public sector workers. It also recently settled multi-year pay deals with juniors doctors and general practitioners.
The contract for all 39,000 junior doctors will see a minimum 8.2% pay rise over four years, as well as ensuring fairer pay when working late hours and weekends, and puts new limits on working hours as part of wider improvements to their working conditions.