In a significant development, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced that most eligible dentists and doctors working within the National Health Service (NHS) will receive a pay increase of at least 6%. The government has accepted the recommendations put forth by independent pay review bodies, acknowledging the vital contributions of NHS staff and their commitment to the country’s healthcare system.

According to the announcement, junior doctors’ pay will see an average increase of approximately 8.8%, with varying uplifts ranging between 8.1% and 10.3% based on their level of training. This move aims to recognize, recruit, and retain talented professionals within the NHS while simultaneously considering the interests of taxpayers and the need to combat inflation.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay expressed appreciation for the dedication of NHS staff, stating, “We hugely value the work of all NHS staff. That’s why we’re giving junior doctors, consultants, and senior NHS staff a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review bodies. But it also balances the need to keep inflation in check while giving some staff significant pay increases.”

The agreement encompasses approximately 130,000 full-time equivalent doctors and dentists, including junior doctors and consultants, aligning with the recommendations made by the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). Junior doctors will witness an average pay increase of 8.8%, with first-year junior doctors experiencing a rise of 10.3% and the most experienced junior doctors seeing an increase of 8.1%. Consultants will receive a 6% pay rise.

The pay uplift for dentists and doctors reflects the government’s commitment to support the healthcare workforce and ensure the safety and well-being of patients. In addition to the basic pay increase, eligible staff may also benefit from performance pay, overtime, pay progression, pay rises from promotion, and other associated factors.

The government has emphasized the importance of pay awards that acknowledge the efforts of the public sector while adhering to the Prime Minister’s goal of reducing inflation and effectively managing public spending. Funding for the pay rise will be sourced from existing departmental budgets, with frontline services being protected.

This recent pay rise announcement follows the increase in pay received by nurses, paramedics, midwives, and other NHS staff members last month. Over one million NHS employees received a 5% pay rise, accompanied by two one-off payments, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting healthcare workers.

The news arrives shortly after the NHS released its inaugural NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which received over £2.4 billion in government funding. This plan aims to facilitate the largest training expansion in NHS history, recruit and retain hundreds of thousands of additional staff over the next 15 years, and further strengthen the healthcare sector.

The pay awards will be retroactively effective from April 1, 2023, and are applicable only to NHS staff in England. The government intends to fund the pay increase within existing budget allocations, while actively addressing the healthcare costs covered by the Immigration Health Surcharge.

As the government takes steps to ensure the sustainability and growth of the NHS, it encourages unions still engaged in disputes to end their strikes promptly, enabling a collective effort to enhance healthcare services for all.

The government remains dedicated to supporting the NHS by securing the necessary funding to meet the healthcare needs of the nation. Collaboration with the NHS Staff Council will facilitate the smooth implementation of the NHS pay deal, enabling the workforce to provide quality care to patients across the country.