Will NHS consultants vote to stop the strikes?
Spectator (UK)Nov 30, 2023
Senior Doctors in England Accept Pay Offer, End Strikes
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The Facts
Senior doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) have announced that 83% of their members have voted in favor of a pay rise offer from the British government.
On top of a 6% pay increase effective Aprìl 2023, an additional uplift of 5% on average that had been narrowly rejected in January now includes a 2.9% wage increase for consultants with four to seven years of experience.
The Spin
Narrative A
While all parties have hailed the agreement as both sensible and reassuring, and the deal is likely to help continue to reduce waiting times, there is more to do. Although the NHS continues to be spread thin, only exacerbated by continued rounds of various health sector strikes, the deal does give hope that a mature middle ground can continue to be found.
Establishment-critical narrative
NHS staff will continue to ensure they are being paid appropriately for their value. With the UK being drained of both experienced and young professionals taking handsome overseas offers, the agreement will help to block the leak within the UK's health service for now. While the Tories may laud the ending of the dispute as a comprehensive political victory, there is a long way to go until the government settles its debts with the entirety of NHS staff.