Junior doctors are to vote on a new four-year improvement to their contract which will mean annual pay uplifts of 2 per cent and additional investment in the contract to support increased productivity and recruitment and retention.

NHS Employers and the BMA have reached agreement on a set of proposals that will now be put to a referendum of the BMA’s membership (juniors) on Friday 14 June.

A total of £90 million will be used to fund changes over and above the pay uplifts over the four-year year period which include:

• Weekend allowance uplift to ensure those working the most frequent weekends are remunerated more fairly.
• An enhanced rate of pay for shifts that finish after midnight and by 4am.
• A new nodal pay point 5: The parties propose that instead of a senior decision maker allowance, a fifth nodal pay point will be introduced.

Agreement has also been reached over safety and rest limits; exception reporting and guardian of safe working hours; work scheduling and code of practice; leave and locum work.

The agreement covers the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2023. In 19/20, this will mean a total investment of 2.3%. In each of the three subsequent years (20/21-22/23) this will mean annual pay uplifts of 2% and a further 1% of additional investment in the contract.  

The referendum follows the 2018 review of the 2016 contract.
If junior doctors support the deal new terms will be introduced from August 2019 for doctors in training. This will put the contract on the same basis as all national NHS pay contracts with changes agreed in partnership between staff a…
Read More...