Patients group attacks doctors' 4% pay claim

Published on Saturday 25 October 2008 19:27

DOCTORS' leaders have demanded a 4% pay rise that would see some senior medics earn almost £103,000 a year.

The British Medical Association has urged the Government to consider the deal, despite the economic crisis.

The BMA has asked for a 4% increase for GPs and consultants as well as a rise of almost 6% for junior doctors, to compensate them for losing their right to free hospital accommodation. The move, if accepted, would see GPs earn more than 93,000 a year and give junior doctors a starting salary of about 23,151.

But it has placed doctors on a collision course with the government as Prime Minister Gordon Brown has signalled that public sector pay rises will be restricted to about 2.25%.

It has also sparked anger from patients' groups after GPs were given a 20% pay increase three years ago and had their out-of-hours obligations scrapped. They have not received a pay rise since then.

The BMA has submitted the request to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, which examines the case for doctors' pay and makes a recommendation to the Government. A committee representing NHS employers has requested that the pay rise for NHS staff is restricted to 2%.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA council, said a pay rise of "at least" 4% was "appropriate and affordable". He added: "Determining a fair pay award will be no easy task this year with the economy in an unstable and unpredictable state. We recognise this and have submitted a responsible request for pay increases.

"Last year's below inflationary rises have failed to keep pace with the increase in the cost of living. Moreover … the loss of free accommodation for junior doctors also amounted to a pay reduction."

Nurses were last year awarded just over 2% in a three-year deal. They, too, may return to the negotiating table because of the problems with the economy. Last night the Royal College of Nursing would not comment on the doctors' demands.

But Margaret Watt, of the Scotland Patients' Association, said: "Pensioners and low-paid people have the same problems with the credit crunch. Why should doctors be entitled to a pay rise when pensioners will have great difficulty heating their houses and feeding themselves?"