This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62407554
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Junior doctors' pay offer concerns hospital leaders | Junior doctors' pay offer concerns hospital leaders |
| (2 months later) | |
| Medical students and junior doctors were protesting outside Department of Health and Social Care last week | Medical students and junior doctors were protesting outside Department of Health and Social Care last week |
| Medical students and junior doctors were protesting outside Department of Health and Social Care last week | Medical students and junior doctors were protesting outside Department of Health and Social Care last week |
| Hospital leaders are concerned by the government's decision not to offer junior doctors in England the same pay rise as other NHS staff. | Hospital leaders are concerned by the government's decision not to offer junior doctors in England the same pay rise as other NHS staff. |
| Junior doctors are entitled to a 2% annual pay rise as part of a four-year deal but other staff are getting 4.5%. | Junior doctors are entitled to a 2% annual pay rise as part of a four-year deal but other staff are getting 4.5%. |
| NHS Providers, representing trusts in England, says this undermines morale in an already overstretched workforce. | NHS Providers, representing trusts in England, says this undermines morale in an already overstretched workforce. |
| The Department of Health and Social Care says junior doctors' pay will be looked at next year. | The Department of Health and Social Care says junior doctors' pay will be looked at next year. |
| It maintains the current pay deal, which ends then, provides the most experienced junior doctors with higher pay and increases allowances for those working the most weekends. | It maintains the current pay deal, which ends then, provides the most experienced junior doctors with higher pay and increases allowances for those working the most weekends. |
| But junior doctors say the strain of working through the worst of the pandemic has not eased and the pay decision is deeply unfair. | But junior doctors say the strain of working through the worst of the pandemic has not eased and the pay decision is deeply unfair. |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate deals with junior doctors and have offered pay rises more in line with other staff. | Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate deals with junior doctors and have offered pay rises more in line with other staff. |
| 'Student debts' | 'Student debts' |
| The British Medical Association (BMA), the main union representing all doctors, says industrial action is inevitable if the government does not change its stance. | The British Medical Association (BMA), the main union representing all doctors, says industrial action is inevitable if the government does not change its stance. |
| One junior doctor told BBC News: "The 2% offer is just a slap in the face. | One junior doctor told BBC News: "The 2% offer is just a slap in the face. |
| "Doctors are working long night shifts, saving people's lives, for not much more than minimum wage. | "Doctors are working long night shifts, saving people's lives, for not much more than minimum wage. |
| "We also have exams and training that is mandatory that we have to pay for with this paltry salary. | "We also have exams and training that is mandatory that we have to pay for with this paltry salary. |
| "And after six years of medical school, we have huge student debts as well." | "And after six years of medical school, we have huge student debts as well." |
| 'Drastic change' | 'Drastic change' |
| Another said: "I don't understand why the junior doctors were left out of the higher pay award. | Another said: "I don't understand why the junior doctors were left out of the higher pay award. |
| "They will use some excuse that it was some pre-arranged pay deal - but that had a caveat that if there was a drastic change in circumstance, then this would be reviewed. | "They will use some excuse that it was some pre-arranged pay deal - but that had a caveat that if there was a drastic change in circumstance, then this would be reviewed. |
| "Surely, Covid and inflation of 9% should be considered drastic." | "Surely, Covid and inflation of 9% should be considered drastic." |
| The Department of Health and Social Care says junior doctors' pay in England will be looked at next year, when their pay deal ends | The Department of Health and Social Care says junior doctors' pay in England will be looked at next year, when their pay deal ends |
| A third, who graduated from medical school five years ago, said: "I'm a new dad and with the cost-of-living crisis, we're struggling to make ends meet. | A third, who graduated from medical school five years ago, said: "I'm a new dad and with the cost-of-living crisis, we're struggling to make ends meet. |
| "It's not right that full-time working professionals deal with these conditions - it is driving people away from the profession." | "It's not right that full-time working professionals deal with these conditions - it is driving people away from the profession." |
| Junior doctors, which includes anyone who has finished medical school but not yet become a consultant, say their wages have fallen for several years running in real terms (once inflation is accounted for). | Junior doctors, which includes anyone who has finished medical school but not yet become a consultant, say their wages have fallen for several years running in real terms (once inflation is accounted for). |
| First-year junior doctors currently earn £14.13 an hour, assuming a 40-hour week - but they regularly work much longer hours. | First-year junior doctors currently earn £14.13 an hour, assuming a 40-hour week - but they regularly work much longer hours. |
| Many cited poor working conditions where sickness and burnout meant a junior doctor was often doing the work of two or three doctors in a shift, without the necessary guidance and support. | Many cited poor working conditions where sickness and burnout meant a junior doctor was often doing the work of two or three doctors in a shift, without the necessary guidance and support. |
| Intense pressure | Intense pressure |
| Dr Sarah Hallett and Dr Mike Kemp, who jointly chair the BMA junior doctors committee, said: "Overworked, underpaid and undervalued junior doctors cannot and will not tolerate being ignored any longer - and ministers are seemingly oblivious to the crisis in front of them. | Dr Sarah Hallett and Dr Mike Kemp, who jointly chair the BMA junior doctors committee, said: "Overworked, underpaid and undervalued junior doctors cannot and will not tolerate being ignored any longer - and ministers are seemingly oblivious to the crisis in front of them. |
| "They are angry and an extraordinary committee meeting has been called to review next steps." | "They are angry and an extraordinary committee meeting has been called to review next steps." |
| There is intense pressure across the health system. | There is intense pressure across the health system. |
| Patients cannot be quickly admitted to hospital because of crowded accident-and-emergency departments and delays transferring patients from ambulances due to a shortage of staff and beds. | Patients cannot be quickly admitted to hospital because of crowded accident-and-emergency departments and delays transferring patients from ambulances due to a shortage of staff and beds. |
| Problems with social care prevent some medically-fit patients from being discharged and sent back to their communities. | Problems with social care prevent some medically-fit patients from being discharged and sent back to their communities. |
| 'Hugely overstretched' | 'Hugely overstretched' |
| NHS Providers interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said: "Trust leaders are frustrated and concerned by the decision to exclude junior doctors and other specific staff groups from the recent NHS pay award. | NHS Providers interim chief executive Saffron Cordery said: "Trust leaders are frustrated and concerned by the decision to exclude junior doctors and other specific staff groups from the recent NHS pay award. |
| "Like so many people, junior doctors are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. | "Like so many people, junior doctors are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis. |
| "Trust leaders are seeing first hand how the decision to award pay increases to some staff and not others is undermining staff morale, seeding unnecessary division at a time when the workforce is already hugely overstretched and it is a struggle to recruit and retain staff." | "Trust leaders are seeing first hand how the decision to award pay increases to some staff and not others is undermining staff morale, seeding unnecessary division at a time when the workforce is already hugely overstretched and it is a struggle to recruit and retain staff." |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies has made the point multi-year pay awards are part of the Treasury's long-term public-spending plans and unpicking them is not straightforward and could set a precedent for other public-sector workers. | The Institute for Fiscal Studies has made the point multi-year pay awards are part of the Treasury's long-term public-spending plans and unpicking them is not straightforward and could set a precedent for other public-sector workers. |
| "Pay awards are based on what you expect to happen to inflation. And then if inflation turns out lower than expected, the workers do better - but if inflation is higher than expected, they do worse," Ben Zaranko, an economist at the institute, said. | "Pay awards are based on what you expect to happen to inflation. And then if inflation turns out lower than expected, the workers do better - but if inflation is higher than expected, they do worse," Ben Zaranko, an economist at the institute, said. |
| A Department of Health and Social Care official said: "Junior doctors are already in a pre-existing multi-year pay and contract-reform deal, which ends next year - this will be the right time to consider pay." | A Department of Health and Social Care official said: "Junior doctors are already in a pre-existing multi-year pay and contract-reform deal, which ends next year - this will be the right time to consider pay." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Doctors | Doctors |
| NHS | NHS |
| Pay | Pay |
| British Medical Association (BMA) | British Medical Association (BMA) |
| Coronavirus pandemic |