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Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has called on junior doctors to adopt a similar approach to everyone else and refrain from pursuing substantial pay increases in light of rising prices caused by inflation.
She emphasized that inflation is affecting everyone and urged the British Medical Association (BMA) to abandon their demands for a 35 percent pay raise.
The government has made it clear that there will be no further negotiations on pay and urged the BMA to accept the recommended six percent increase proposed by the pay awards body, emphasizing that it is a final offer.
Ms. Keegan stated, “We all understand there has been inflation and a significant spike in inflation. It’s impacting all of us. That’s why the main goal is to curb inflation. You can’t chase it. I would urge them to take the same approach as everybody else, actually.”
Downing Street echoed the sentiment, urging junior doctors and consultants to consider the appropriateness of the BMA’s ongoing disruption of patient care.
The government has accepted the independently-decided pay review body’s recommendation and is open to discussing wider workforce issues, but will not engage in further pay talks.
According to Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson, junior doctors are being offered one of the most substantial pay increases across the entire public sector.
The lowest-paid junior doctors would receive a 10.3 percent pay rise in addition to increased pension contributions that exceed those in the private sector.
The Education Secretary also highlighted that junior doctors are not unique in facing inflationary pressures, as other sectors are also affected. Senior figures at the BMA have warned of the high possibility of further strikes.
The government’s offer to junior doctors includes a six percent pay increase, along with an additional consolidated £1,250 raise. Hospital consultants, who are planning to strike in England, will also receive a six percent rise.
The government has reiterated that there will be no further negotiations, given the current level of CPI inflation, which stands at 8.7 percent. Mr. Sunak aims to reduce it to around 5.3 percent by year-end to avoid exacerbating a wage-price spiral through increased pay.
As there is no new borrowing to fund the deals, government departments will need to prioritize spending, which raises concerns about potential cuts across public services.
The government also dismissed claims that a six percent pay rise for doctors would be unfair to the million NHS staff who accepted a five percent rise in May. Downing Street emphasized that nurses on Agenda for Change contracts are receiving pay increases beyond the headline figure of five percent.
The lowest-paid Agenda for Change staff have seen pay increases of over 20 percent since 2021/22, with nurses being £5,000 better off over the past two years.
Treasury Minister John Glen informed MPs that the previously agreed deal was worth over £3,600 for the average nurse or over £3,700 for the average ambulance worker.
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