Senior doctors warn ‘all options on the table’ amid fury at pay rise
Medics unhappy after Health Secretary says they will receive above-inflation pay rise of 3.5 per cent
Senior doctors have warned “all options are on the table” as they reacted with fury to the Scottish Government’s pay deal.
The Health Secretary said on Wednesday that a host of medics will receive an above-inflation pay rise after it agreed to implement the recommendations of an independent pay review board.
Consultants, GPs, specialty, specialist and associate specialist (SAS) doctors and dentists will receive a 3.5 per cent increase for 2026-27, Angela Constance confirmed, while salaried community and public dental workers will have a 3.75 per cent pay uplift.
However, the BMA warned the offer was not enough and said it would now speak to its members to consider their “next steps”.
In a joint statement, BMA Scotland’s consultants committee chair Dr Joanna Bredski and SAS committee chair Dr Sine Steele, said: “The imposition announced by the Scottish Government is both deeply disappointing and extremely concerning for the future of the profession and the NHS.
“It is regrettable the Cabinet Secretary has decided to ignore previous agreements and imposed the 3.5 per cent pay uplift for both consultants and SAS doctors and without offering any further negotiation on ending pay erosion or reforms which improve working conditions and prevent burnout.”
The BMA said it had been “clear” with Angela Constance about “the need to ensure the medical profession remains an attractive and sustainable career and that Scotland can attract and retain the doctors it needs”.
“In a recent meeting with Ms Constance, we outlined the urgent need to address the longstanding issues affecting our profession, our patients and the NHS,” the joint statement added.
“We know from our recent pay survey that half of consultants said they’d be likely or very likely to leave the NHS in Scotland if the Government were to impose the 3.5 per cent pay uplift and three-quarters told us that their morale would decrease or significantly decrease.
“Unless our pay and working lives as a whole are improved, we will go on losing the senior doctors who are so vital to the NHS in Scotland.
“We will now be talking to our membership and considering next steps. All options are on the table.”
The pay rise, which impacts more than 10,000 NHS employees, will be backdated to April 1 2026 and is expected to begin appearing in salaries at the end of September.
In a letter to the British Medical Association, the Health Secretary said the Government had agreed to implement the recommendations from the independent review body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).
Ms Constance said: “I’m grateful to all consultants, GPs, SAS doctors and dentists for the invaluable contribution they make to the people of Scotland in delivering safe, effective and high-quality care across our communities.
“It is, therefore, right that we recognise this by accepting the independent findings of the DDRB to deliver an equitable and affordable pay deal – one that is in line with other public sector pay awards for 2026-27.
“We remain committed to a fair, evidence-based and independent approach to pay awards and in accepting the DDRB recommendations in full, we are supporting recruitment and retention.
“This will help to ensure that NHS Scotland remains an attractive place to work, while balancing the need for financial sustainability across the public sector.”
The Scottish Government said consultants were previously awarded a 6 per cent pay rise in 2023-24, 10.5 per cent in 2024-25, and 4 per cent in 2025-26.
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