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Doctors in Wales are still set to hold a vote on strike action, despite a 5% pay increase for this year from the Welsh Government.

BMA Cymru Wales will ballot secondary care doctors on industrial action after negotiations over pay broke down last month.

The decision to enter a formal dispute, including seeking a ballot for strike action comes after the BMA rejected the 5% uplift for consultants, junior, and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors.
SAS doctors on some contracts are to be awarded 1.5%.

Although it was rejected by the British Medical Association, the Welsh Government has gone ahead and imposed the pay increase.

Confirming the pay increase in a statement, Wales’ health minister Eluned Morgan said the increase, which also includes a pay rise for dentists, mirrors that given to other NHS staff earlier this year.
The Doctors and Dentist Pay Review Body had recommended a 6% increase.

Ms Morgan said: “Without additional funding from UK Government, we are not currently in a position to make a higher offer.

“When we set our budget for 2023/24, we drew on all our available resources to protect frontline services and provide targeted cost-of-living support to individuals and the economy.

“But even after doing all that, our financial position after the UK Spring Budget in March, was up to £900 million lower in real terms than when that budget was set by the UK Government at the time of the last spending review in 2021.

“This is the toughest financial situation we have faced since devolution. Despite best efforts we have also not received any consequentials nor had any indication that consequentials will be forthcoming from UK Government as a result of the pay awards they have made to NHS staff in England.”

The 5% in Wales is the lowest pay increase of the UK nations. In England doctors were offered a 6% rise in July.

BMA Cymru Wales chair Dr Iona Collins said: “Last week we had 100% backing from the committees representing SAS, consultants, and junior doctors to proceed with balloting for industrial action after the Welsh Government’s 5% pay offer was rejected.

“Unless a credible offer is on the table, we have nothing more to do but ballot our members on industrial action, all the while more doctors decide to leave Wales and the NHS is left in an even more precarious position.”

In her statement confirming the 5%, the health minister addressed the BMA’s concerns.

She said: “I recognise that the BMA are disappointed about the value of the pay offer and are preparing to consult their members about the next steps in pursuit of their pay claim.

“However, I am arranging for this pay award to be made as soon as possible as in a cost of living crisis, it is better for people to have the increased pay that is available for them to spend now, even if it does not meet their full aspirations.”