Northern Ireland

Consultants in Northern Ireland vote to accept pay offer

After threatening strike action in June, the BMA Northern Ireland Consultants Committee (NICC) has accepted a 5.26% pay uplift

Dr David Farren, chair of the BMA Northern Ireland Consultants Committee. PICTURE: BMA
Dr David Farren, chair of the BMA Northern Ireland Consultants Committee. PICTURE: BMA

AFTER postponing strike action in June, consultants in Northern Ireland have “overwhelmingly” voted in favour of a new pay deal.

The British Medical Association’s Northern Ireland Consultants Committee (NICC) announced that 94.3% of consultants voted to accept the 5.26% average pay uplift.

This concludes one of three pay disputes among Northern Ireland doctors.

The Northern Ireland junior doctors committee has already staged strike action over pay this year and is still in dispute with the Department of Health.

The Northern Ireland SAS (specialists, associate specialist and specialty doctor) committee will also hold a formal ballot over pay with members later this year.

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Dr David Farren, chair of NICC, commented: “Consultants in Northern Ireland clearly feel that this offer from government is a positive first step towards full pay restoration.

“Consultants bear ultimate responsibility for patient care, they are key to addressing the waiting list crisis and lead on training doctors and clinical innovation, yet in Northern Ireland their pay did not reflect this level of responsibility.”

He said the deal “begins the process” of making consultant pay more attractive and competitive with UK counterparts at a time of chronic workforce shortages.

The pay offer also includes a revised consultant pay scale, with uplifts at all pay points - the highest percentage uplift in the UK this year and the highest consultant starting salary in the UK.

It follows a 6% uplift already awarded for 2023/24 as part of an independent pay review, which is entirely separate to any future pay award for 2024/25.

“While we are glad to have resolved this particular pay dispute, it is regrettable that it took other UK nations reaching pay deals and an overwhelming yes vote for strike action before DoH made a credible offer to open pay negotiations,” said Dr Farren.

“It should never have reached that point. Valuing the skills of our workforce and ultimately protecting patient care was at the core of this dispute.

“The Department must now demonstrate that it values doctors by continuing to work with us on reversing years of below inflation pay awards and to improve our terms and conditions. That includes timely and prompt payment of this pay award and all future pay body recommended uplifts.”

Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly

The Alliance Health spokesperson, East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly, welcomed the breakthrough.

“After months of engagement and negotiation, it’s incredibly welcome to finally see some resolution for senior doctors in terms of their pay,” he said.

“Consultants play an invaluable role in the running of our health service and ensuring the highest possible standards of patient care. They are key to addressing a range of critical issues we’re facing, including eye-watering waiting lists and the need for transformative change. They deserve to be compensated accordingly.”

Calling it an important step to encourage more senior medics to stay in Northern Ireland, he called on the Health Minister to keep engaging with the BMA over the junior and specialist doctor strikes, stating their work was “equally essential” to delivering the best care for patients.