Scottish resident doctor strike called off as BMA accepts improved SNP pay offer
SNP ministers have had their pay offer that matches the one accepted by nurses and other health care staff accepted by resident doctors.
Resident doctors have called off strike action after voting overwhelmingly in favour of an improved pay offer from SNP ministers.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that its members have accepted an offer of 4.25 per cent in 2025-26 and 3.75 per cent in 2026-27 – a deal that matches one accepted by nurses and other health care staff.
Proposed strike action, which had originally been postponed by the BMA on January 9, will now be cancelled.
The BMA welcomed the offer, which it said was made up of £149m of investment, but warned “there remains much more work to be done”.
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Dr Chris Smith, chairman of BMA Scottish resident doctor committee, said: “Resident doctors have accepted a deal that is another step forward on our journey towards pay restoration and crucially embeds improvements for doctors for the future.
“It represents an investment in the future of the NHS workforce and is positive for doctors and for patients, as we seek to recruit and retain the workforce both for today and for years to come.
“This pay deal, which is based on total funding of £149m over two years, is a welcome substantial investment and continues progress towards reversing the pay erosion resident doctors have suffered since 2008. However there remains much more work to be done to address issues affecting resident doctors in Scotland, to secure their future - and the future of the NHS.”
In a online consultative vote, 97.1 per cent voted in favour of the pay offer with a turnout of 62.4 per cent.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The combined offer will see the same pay deal which nurses and NHS support staff agreed.
“It also includes additional investment in contractual reform over the same period, providing a total combined investment of £133 million over this time, underlining our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement.
“With Scotland remaining the only part of the UK to avoid pay-related strike action in the NHS, I am now determined that we will continue to make progress in cutting waiting times and ensuring people get quality care.”
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