Doctors’ pay: Government proposes a below-inflation rise for 2027/28

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By Sarah Lowden

The government is planning a pay uplift for doctors of 2.4% for the next financial year.

This would be “affordable” within existing budgets, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said in its recommendation to the upcoming Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it amounted to a “pay cut”, and it “beggars belief” the government would propose this figure when doctors are dealing with increased patient demand for services.

In a joint submission to the pay review body, NHS England and the DHSC said financial and delivery plans had been developed “that currently plan for a pay uplift of 2.4% without having to make trade-offs against headline government health commitments”.

“Should the independent pay review bodies recommend an award above this level, we would need to consider whether and how this could be made affordable from within existing DHSC budgets.

“Accepting such an award would inevitably have an impact on healthcare delivery,” the document states.