SPECIALIST doctors in Northern Ireland have become the latest health workers to accept a pay offer following months of disputes.
SAS (Specialist, Associate Specialist and Specialty) doctors do not complete the traditional pathway towards a consultant or general practitioner role, but are employed in a variety of specialties and can hold senior clinical roles.
Voting overwhelmingly (94.7%) on an offer from the Department of Health (DoH), SAS doctors on 2021 contracts will see an annual increase of up to 7.1%, as well as a £1,400 uplift for each pay point for those on 2008 contracts.
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This is in addition to a 6% pay uplift for 2024/25 recommended by the independent pay review body.
Dr Leanne Davison, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland SAS committee, said: “SAS doctors in Northern Ireland clearly feel this offer from government is a credible step towards full pay restoration.
“We are a smaller branch of practice within the health service, but we are an integral and highly skilled part of the medical workforce.
“We are also among the most senior clinicians in the health service, working alongside our consultant and resident doctor colleagues, however our pay did not reflect this. ”
She said the offer would demonstrate that SAS doctors were valued and improve recruitment and retention levels.
The offer followed a deal agreed by English SAS doctors in June, with pay negotiations beginning in Northern Ireland without the need to ballot for industrial action.
Dr Davison added that Northern Ireland should not have to wait for other UK nations to reach pay deals for progress.
“We will continue to push the Department for further improvements to SAS doctors’ pay and career development to reverse years of deterioration,” she said.
“That includes addressing the unacceptable, annual uncertainty around DDRB pay uplifts to doctors and the impact this has on workforce.”
In August, consultants in Northern Ireland accepted a pay offer from the DoH, while the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee announced they will be putting a pay offer to residents in the new year."
Earlier this week, health workers in the Unison, Nipsa and Unite trade unions also moved to accept “an enhanced pay offer” with a commitment that pay parity would be maintained for 2024/25 at 5.5%.
