Doctors blast government’s proposed pay rise as ‘derisory’ and risks further NHS strikes

The government has proposed a 2.4 per cent pay rise for doctors in 2027/28, prompting unions to condemn the offer and warn it could deepen disputes with the NHS workforce. The BMA called it a pay cut, arguing doctors’ pay remains below its level 20 years ago, while warning that failing to value staff could lead to further strikes and disruption.

The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England told the pay review body the increase could be funded without trade-offs against government health commitments. Their evidence cited financial pressures including inflation, energy costs, industrial action and lower immigration health surcharge income; it estimated each 0.5 percentage point rise in NHS pay costs about £750 million, equivalent to more than 89,000 hip or knee replacements. The government accepted a 3.5 per cent rise for 2026 after initially proposing 2.5 per cent.