Resident doctors in Scotland have suspended strikes after the BMA recommended a new pay-and-contract reform offer following negotiations. This decision, made ahead of planned strike dates, eases industrial tension in the NHS
Resident doctors in Scotland have suspended strike action after the BMA recommended members accept a new pay and contract offer from the Scottish Government. The strikes, scheduled for 13 to 18 January, would have been the first for resident doctors in Scotland. Intensive negotiations led to this recommendation, which could ease pressure on NHS services by averting disruption.
Strikes were due between 13 and 18 January – it would have been the first time resident doctors in Scotland had taken strike action, unlike other UK countries.
The Scottish Government offer a 9.9% pay uplift to resident doctors
The BMA Scottish resident doctors committee recommends that members accept the offer, which is equivalent to a 9.9% end-of-year pay uplift for this year and 9.4% for 2026-27.
SRDC chair Chris Smith welcomed the proposed deal, which amounts to £149m for the two years and was offered just ahead of the planned strike period. He stated, “From day one of this dispute, we’ve been clear that strike action was a last resort, so we are pleased that after a period of intense negotiations we have agreed an offer which we believe now faithfully delivers on the deal we made with the Scottish Government nearly three years ago.
He continued, “The ultimate verdict on whether that is the case now lies with our members, but we will be recommending that they accept.”
Smith also said, “Our view is the substantial investment proposed continues the progress made to reverse the pay erosion resident doctors have suffered since 2008.”
Investing in the future of the NHS workforce
The proposed deal would move all resident doctors up the pay scale; these increases will range from 8.56% to 12.65% this year and from 8.04% to 12.1% next year.
Dr Smith added: “Coming in the shape of new funding into our contract means that, if accepted, this deal embeds improvements for doctors for the future. It will provide much-needed impetus to deliver a new contract for resident doctors that was a key part of the deal agreed with the Scottish Government in 2023.”
He concluded, “Ultimately, this offer is a vote of confidence in, and a signal of the vital importance of, resident doctors. It is an investment in the future of the NHS workforce and will be good for doctors, but also for patients, as we seek to recruit and retain the workforce both for today and the future. It is, in our view, a strong step on the way to achieving our shared ambition with the Scottish Government, of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.”
The debate over pay and contract reform for resident doctors in Scotland is rooted in a range of complex issues that have intensified in recent years. Rising inflation and the increasing cost of living have placed additional financial pressures on junior doctors, making current pay levels a growing concern. Furthermore, persistent staff shortages and mounting workloads have contributed to burnout and low morale across the NHS workforce. Advocates for reform argue that competitive pay and fairer contracts are essential not only to retain existing staff but also to attract new talent into the profession, ultimately safeguarding the future of healthcare delivery in Scotland.
