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Government's latest pay rise is "unacceptable" says most doctors

NINE in 10 doctors consider the government’s latest pay award unacceptable, according to a British Medical Association (BMA) poll published yesterday.

Last month a pay increase of at least 2 per cent was announced for junior doctors, specialists and GPs; consultants would get a pay rise of at least £1,150.

The survey of more than 12,000 doctors in England also found that 58 per cent of the doctors polled felt significantly less valued as a result of the announcement.

The BMA says that the government ignored the “already insufficient” recommendations of the doctors and dentists review body in reaching its “inadequate” pay settlement.

Since 2008 the three professional groups have experienced real-terms pay drops of 19 to 20 per cent.

BMA council chairman Chaand Nagpaul said the government has “seriously misjudged the mood of the profession with what is another sub-inflationary pay award.

“For those thousands of our hard-working members and their families this is nothing more than an insult and the figures speak for themselves.”

“With the NHS facing severe shortages of doctors across all specialities, it is more important than ever that the government recognises the contribution declining pay has had on the ability to recruit and retain doctors and takes steps to reverse this,” he added.

Mr Nagpaul said that backdating the pay to April and increasing the offer would go a long way to helping doctors feel valued.

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