Doctors accept pay deal but vote should be ‘wake-up call’ for ministers

Specialist doctors in Scotland’s NHS have voted to accept a pay deal – though ministers have been warned the result of the ballot should be a “wake-up call”.

The British Medical Association (BMA) issued the warning after 58.4% of doctors who took part in a ballot backed the deal – which will see pay for specialist, specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors rise by between 6% and 10%.

Depending on their level, doctors will see a rise of between £3,492 and £8,872 on their wages – with the deal backdated to April 2024.

The BMA had organised the ballot as it had said previously the deal, which is worth £7.2 million, was “some way short”.

Speaking after the result of the ballot had been announced, Dr Sine Steele, chairwoman of BMA Scotland’s specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctor committee, said it had been “disappointed with the offer”, claiming it “didn’t match” what some other doctors had received.

She added: “While the result shows us that there is a majority who feel what is on offer this year is enough, it is far from an overwhelming vote in favour.

“The result should be a wake-up call to the Scottish Government that it is at serious risk of losing the confidence of SAS doctors in Scotland.

“Given the parlous state of the health service and the vital role we play in many parts of the NHS across the whole of the country, they can ill afford to continue on that path and push us towards the kind of dispute that a No vote would have triggered.”

While typically working in hospitals, SAS doctors have chosen not to become consultants, though many of them have substantial clinical experience in their area.

Health secretary Neil Gray said: “I am very pleased that specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors in Scotland have voted to accept the Scottish Government’s pay offer.

“It builds on the contract reform and investment we made in 2022 and ensures that these doctors will stay competitively paid in Scotland.

“I am very grateful for the patience of all our SAS doctors and I’m delighted we have been able to work together to achieve this deal.”