Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Union proposes 12% pay raise as solution to end NHS consultants' strikes

Prime minister Rishi Sunak had previously announced a 6% pay increase for doctors, described as a “final offer”

Union proposes 12% pay raise as solution to end NHS consultants' strikes

The British Medical Association (BMA) consultants committee chairman, Dr Vishal Sharma, has suggested that a pay rise of approximately 12% for NHS consultants could potentially end the ongoing strikes.

Dr Sharma said that any offer above inflation would be sufficient to present to BMA members.


The comments were made in anticipation of a two-day strike by senior doctors across England, beginning today (20). This strike is expected to exacerbate the existing challenges hospitals are confronting due to the ongoing five-day junior doctors' strike, scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak had previously announced a 6% pay increase for doctors, described as a "final offer," which could result in an up to £7,000 raise for some consultants, The Telegraph reported.

The BMA responded with anger and dissatisfaction and announced a further 48-hour walkout in August due to the “derisory” pay offer.

Dr Sharma compared the potential offer to the 12.4% increase already accepted by junior doctors in Scotland, suggesting that a similar proposal might be presented for a vote among English consultants.

While consultants in England have not publicly specified their desired figure, they are demanding a "credible offer" and reforms to the independent pay review body.

The consultants argue that their pay has declined by 35 per cent in real terms since 2008.

Dr Sharma said, “Consultants’ pay has been cut more than any other group in the public sector. That’s going over the last 15 years.

“Going into this cost of living crisis we were already very significantly down. We were down far more than other groups.”

The strikes by consultants have caused significant disruption, as no one else can replace their roles.

Hospital leaders warn that these strikes are impeding efforts to reduce the backlog of patients resulting from the Covid pandemic.

The NHS currently has 7.47 million patients waiting for treatment in England.

Despite the ongoing industrial action, the BMA has not ruled out further strikes if their terms are not met, potentially leading to additional cancellations of appointments and operations.

Over 650,000 appointments and operations have already been cancelled due to NHS strikes.

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less