The SNP leadership has repeatedly ‘gloated’ that the NHS in Scotland is free from industrial action as junior doctors down south went on strike – now they have just days to avoid ‘catastrophic consequences’ in hospitals
Resident doctors join a picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London on December 17(Image: Getty)
Scotland’s resident doctors are to strike in a pay dispute plunging the country into a potentially “catastrophic” crisis. The industrial action will be the first of its kind ever in the country.
According to the BMA Scotland union, it’s been caused by the Scottish Government reneging on a commitment to restore pay to 2008 levels. Strikes are due to start on Tuesday, January 13, and Saturday, January 17.
The vote for industrial action saw a 92% vote in favour. The turn-out of the 5,185 resident doctors was 58% with a total of 3,008 votes being cast. There remains a glimmer of hope that the strikes can be called off, with the SNP administration being urged to get back round the negotiating table and present a “credible offer”.
Resident doctors – who were previously called junior doctors – make up around 50% of the medical workforce in Scotland. Their roles range from newly-qualified doctors to those with up to 10 years’ experience.
READ MORE: Damning NHS Scotland audit report exposes the SNP’s ‘trail of broken promises’
READ MORE: NHS Fife chief quit over Sandie Peggie ‘intense scrutiny’ and held secret Neil Gray talk
BMA Scotland’s anger centres on what it calls the “erosion” of funding provided to general practice since 2008, while last night the Scottish Tories warned of the dire implications if a resolution was not found quickly.
The party’s shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “This is a terrifying development that risks pushing our broken NHS over the edge. John Swinney and Neil Gray have pushed our health service to breaking point, with waiting lists spiralling out of control, vulnerable patients being treated in rammed corridors and a flu, above, wave ripping through the country.”
Dr Sandesh Gulhane(Image: Getty Images)
“They need to do everything in their power to stop this strike action from going ahead. If doctors down tools at the height of winter, the consequences will be catastrophic. The SNP leader has repeatedly gloated that Scotland’s NHS is free from strike action, while our health service crept towards the brink, due to his government’s mismanagement. Excuses won’t cut it this time.”
Explaining the reason behind industrial action, Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA resident doctors committee, said: “The result of this ballot shows resident doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish Government breaking the deal they agreed over pay just two years ago. This is not where we wanted to be.
“However, we have sent a message loud and clear: the government cannot brazenly renege on its commitments without expecting to be held to account. Instead of negotiating with resident doctors to make credible progress towards pay restoration… they have imposed a pay uplift that is the lowest average award received by resident doctors anywhere in the UK.
“By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish Government is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action. If we don’t take a stand now when the government have broken a commitment agreed to in good faith, they will take this as licence to do it again and again, including on issues such as contract negotiations and more training jobs for resident doctors as part of future medical workforce planning.
“This matters not just for doctors but for patients and for the future of the entire NHS in Scotland, which relies on today’s resident doctors to stay here and become the GPs, specialist doctors and consultants of tomorrow.”
Scotland’s junior doctor’s leader Dr Chris Smith on an English picket line in 2023(Image: BMA)Neil Gray: ‘I am disappointed in Scots doctors’
In November, resident doctors were told Holyrood would not negotiate with BMA Scotland and “cannot go further” on pay, regardless of any potential strike action, after Health Secretary Neil Gray previously stated further progress towards pay restoration was “not possible” at present.
He made resident doctors a pay offer of 4.25% for 2025-26 with a further 3.75% for the next financial year. The union alleges that the Scottish Government committed to making “credible progress” towards restoring pay to 2008 levels in each of the three following financial years.
Up until now, Scotland had been the only part of the UK not to have NHS workers take strike action. However, it is part of that deal which BMA Scotland claims has been breached.
News of the potential action will be a hammer blow to the Scottish Government, having consistently promised to end long waits for procedures and appointments by March. The strike announcement, made late on Friday evening, casts a major doubts over that being achieved.
The two-year offer from the Scottish Government was for a 4.25% increase in 2025-26 and 3.75% in 2026-27. That is the same offer that nurses, paramedics and other NHS workers accepted earlier this year.
BMA Scotland said it was less than recommended by the independent pay review body. The current offer would see the basic pay for a newly-qualified doctor rise from £34,500 to £37,345 for 2026-27, while a doctor with 10 years’ experience would see a rise from £71,549 to £77,387.
Mr Gray said: “I am disappointed BMA resident doctors have voted to take strike action and I have offered to meet the chair of the BMA residents committee on Monday. Resident doctors in Scotland have received a 4.2% pay uplift this year – as part of a two-year deal – the same as accepted by nurses and otherNHS staff. This means by 2027, we will have delivered a cumulative pay rise of 35% in four years.
“Our top priority for our patients and the workforce is to improve waiting times, access to the NHS and positive outcomes. Industrial action will put all that progress at risk.”
Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.