Doctors in Wales vote to accept pay deal and end strikes

Doctors in Wales have voted to accept a pay offer by the Welsh Government bringing to end the ongoing junior doctors strikes. Junior doctors have been offered a pay uplift totalling 12.4%.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said she was "very pleased" consultants, junior, specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors in Wales have voted to accept the pay offer for 2023-24 adding "we can end the strikes in Wales, which have been so disruptive to patient care".

Opposition politicians have accused Labour of only making the offer because it would look good during the election.

READ MORE: Wales facing brutal cuts whether Labour or Tories win the next election

READ MORE: Conservative Senedd Member investigated for betting on July General Election date

In a statement the Welsh Government said: "Further to our written statement on 7 June, we are pleased to confirm the pay offers we made to consultants, SAS doctors and junior doctors to end the strikes and settle the pay dispute in 2023-24, have been accepted.

"Each of the BMA’s three branches of practice voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the respective pay offers. We will now begin the process of implementing the pay award, so doctors and dentists employed in the NHS will receive the payments as soon as practicable.

"We would like to thank members of the BMA’s negotiating teams and NHS Wales Employers for the constructive nature of the talks. Implementing these offers will end this dispute and industrial action, meaning doctors will return to work in Wales for the benefit of the public and NHS services."

Responding to news, Sam Rowlands MS, shadow minister for health, said: “The Welsh Labour Government has acted shamefully throughout this episode.

“By only releasing the funds for a pay deal when it was politically advantageous to do so, Labour have caused the strikes which led to missed operations, extra pressure on our NHS and undue stress on Wales’ consultants, SAS doctors and junior doctors."

Welsh health secretary Eluned Morgan added: “Despite the most severe financial situation we’ve faced in the devolution era, we have worked hard to negotiate an end to this dispute. It means all our efforts are now focused on ensuring the best possible clinical outcomes for people in Wales.

“This shows the difference a Labour government makes – working in social partnership with unions and NHS employers to do the right thing for the public, for the NHS workforce and for the health service.”]

What the Welsh Government offered:

Junior doctors: A 12.4% pay uplift, backdated to 1 April 2023. This includes the 5% pay lift for 2023-24, which has already been paid

Consultants: A new pay structure to support recruitment and retention, better reward performance, address the gender pay gap, and support progression through the career of consultants in Wales, backdated to January 1, 2024.

Specialist doctors: A new contract and multi-year pay deal. The offer includes uplifting the 2022-23 pay scales by a further 4%, making a total of 9% for 2023-24 backdated to 1 January 2024 for associate specialists.