Funding cuts risk UK’s position as a medical research leader, BMA warns

Getty/Adene Sanchez

By Daniel Pye

Cutting millions of pounds from funding that ensures pay parity between academics and NHS consultants is “at odds” with the government’s priorities to grow research and innovation, according to the British Medical Association.

The union said cutting £16.7 million would discourage doctors from entering research.

The Department for Education (DfE) is cutting £15.8 million for consultant clinical academic pay and £0.9 million to senior academic general practitioners pay from the Strategic Priorities Grant.

Such cuts will have “a profound impact on an already fragile sector,” the BMA told education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

A joint letter, signed by members of the BMA and the British Dental Association medical staff committees, described the funding as vital for attracting doctors and dentists into medical education and research.

Medical and dental academics lead the development of new diagnostics, treatments and models of care, are responsible for up to a third of university grant income and trains the next generation of healthcare professionals, it stated.