NHS doctors reject offer of double pay rise

Consultants have rejected the new pay offer made by the government in England by the narrowest of margins. Some 51% of members voted against it, prompting the British Medical Association to urge the government to better their offer.

The deal put forward was worth an extra 4.95% on average in basic pay from this month - and would have come on top of a 6% pay rise they got in April. Members of the BMA were ask to vote on it and the offer was made last month.

Consultants took part in four walkouts last year and has a strike mandate until June, but have not announced any more walkouts.

The amount individual doctors were to get on top of the 6% rise they have already received would have varied from zero to nearly 13% as part of an overhaul of their contracts.

Consultants at the much smaller Hospital Consultants and Specialists Union have also rejected the deal.

BMA consultants leader Dr Vishal Sharma said: "The vote has shown that consultants do not feel the current offer goes far enough to end the current dispute and offer a long-term solution.

"It backs up conversations we've had with colleagues in recent weeks, who felt the changes were insufficient and did not give them confidence that pay erosion would be addressed over the coming years.

"In addition, they were concerned about the fairness of the offer and how it impacted different groups of doctors. There were also clear concerns about changes to professional development time, and time dedicated to teaching and research.

"However, with the result so close, the consultants committee is giving the government a chance to improve the offer."