Scotland reporter

BMA SCOTLAND have accused the Scottish government of trying to  “brazenly renege” on pay commitments to resident doctors, as they announced plans to strike in the new year.

Nearly 92 per cent of the medics backed strike action, and unless a deal is found, resident doctors could begin a four-day strike on January 13 — the very day the SNP Scottish government presents its pre-election Budget to Holyrood.

The announcement, made over the weekend, comes less than a fortnight after Health Secretary Neil Gray warned there was “no more funding available for the pay offer,” to help reverse the nearly two decades of pay erosion that has already led to strike action in England.

Slamming the imposition of a pay award, BMA Scotland’s resident doctors committee chairman Dr Chris Smith said: “The result of this ballot shows that 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, as [the government has] agreed to do, it has imposed a pay uplift that is the lowest average award received by resident doctors anywhere in the UK.”

He said that the deal that the Scottish government agreed to in 2023 “was the only reason strike action, which we have seen elsewhere in the UK, has been avoided.”

“By turning its back on this deal, the Scottish government is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action,” he said.

“There is still time to avoid strikes — BMA Scotland resident doctors remain committed to the deal when it is being upheld in its entirety.”

A “disappointed” Mr Gray has offered to meet with the BMA residents committee today, adding: “Resident doctors in Scotland have received a 4.25 per cent pay uplift this year — as part of a two-year deal — the same as accepted by nurses and other NHS staff.

“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.”