SAS doctors in Scotland endorse pay offer
Deal must be viewed as a stepping stone to further improvements on pay in the future, says BMA Scotland
SAS doctors in Scotland have backed an offer on pay following the outcome of a consultative ballot held by the BMA.
Specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors in Scotland have voted to endorse an offer which will see a 6 per cent uplift in pay applied to staff employed on the 2022 and 2008 specialty doctor contracts and 2008 associate specialist contracts.
The offer will also see the rate of pay for specialist grade doctors in Scotland brought in line with those in England, with a 10.07 per cent increase to the first and a 7.14 per cent increase to the second and third pay points.
The ballot, which closed on 27 January saw 58.4 per cent of participants vote in favour of the offer, based on a turnout of 58.9 per cent.
A deal will also see a provision to assist specialty doctors wishing to enter the specialist grade, through a joint-working commitment between BMA Scotland and NHS Employers, with all uplifts in pay to be backdated to 1 April 2024.
‘Wake-up call’
In a blog published today, BMA Scotland SASC chair Sine Steele (pictured above) said her committee would now write to the Scottish Government to accept the pay offer but added a new deal must be viewed as a stepping stone to further improvements on pay in the future.
Acknowledging some aspects of the offer had not met members expectations, Dr Steele urged SAS doctors in Scotland not to remain silent in the struggle for fairer terms.
She said: ‘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.
‘Indeed, 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 NHS 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.
Members’ strength
‘There are now two key tests going forward for the Scottish Government, first to deliver on the commitments in this offer that sit alongside the headline pay rise, and then to deliver a pay uplift next year that better meets the expectations of SAS doctors.’
She added: ‘Our strength is built entirely through you: members across Scotland. While a turnout of nearly 60 per cent is not unreasonable and in line with what resident doctors achieved this year, more votes, more activists, more strength on the ground can only help us and add to the case we make to the Scottish Government and fight for the improvements that SAS doctors need and deserve for the huge contribution we make.’
