Welsh doctors and dentists get 2.8% pay increase

Doctors and dentists will receive a 2.8% pay increase in Wales.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the above-inflation increase was "well-deserved recognition".

It follows a decision to do the same in England. Other public sector workers are also seeing increases.

But Mr Gething said the UK Treasury was not providing additional cash for the increase - "so the additional funding needed will need to be found from existing budgets".

The doctors' union BMA Cymru said the recommendations could have gone further to address "many years of below inflation rises".

The Welsh Government said the increase was in line with the recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB).

Mr Gething said: "This increase is well-deserved recognition for our hardworking doctors and dentists, and their contribution to the NHS in Wales.

"The Welsh Government is committed to supporting our NHS workforce, who have once again proved their dedication and commitment by delivering excellent healthcare in very difficult circumstances recently."

The pay rise covers all groups of doctors and dentists, including consultants, salaried GPs and dentists.

Dr David Bailey, chairman of the BMA Cymru Wales Council, said: "The recommendations could have gone further to address many years of below inflation rises, however, doctors in Wales will be pleased that the Welsh Government has decided to implement the recommendation made by the independent panel.

"The NHS is facing unprecedented levels of demand and staff shortages, and the last few months have been particularly gruelling for doctors as they have battled the Covid-19 pandemic."

Welsh nurses were offered a 6.5% pay-rise in 2018, on the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

Some of the public sector pay rises announced by the UK government on Tuesday will affect staff in Wales.

Police, prison officers and National Crime Agency staff in England and Wales will be given a 2.5% rise in pay, while members of the armed forces across the UK will get 2%.

Members of the judiciary and senior civil servants across the UK will also see their pay topped up by 2%.

Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew RT Davies said Chancellor Rishi Sunak's announcement "will be a welcome reward for the hard work and dedication shown by so many during the struggle against Covid-19, and I am pleased that the Labour Party here in Wales has followed suit for doctors and dentists".

Plaid Cymru health spokesman, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said: "I'm pleased that this is a decent pay settlement for doctors, dentists and others in the NHS that have given so much during this pandemic."

But he called for care workers to be put "on the same terms as their health counterparts within a single, integrated health and care service for Wales".

The UK government's announcement on teachers' pay applies to England. In Wales the issue is devolved - the Welsh Government said a decision on that will be announced soon.

"We are currently considering the report and recommendations from the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body," a spokesperson said.

"We now note that in England they plan to increase pay for new teachers by around 5%, similar to what we announced for Welsh teachers last year."

This pay rise comes as no surprise, following a period where many staff have had to work the most difficult shifts of their careers, responding to the NHS's biggest ever challenge.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething, in line with England, has accepted the recommendation of an independent panel of 2.8% rise for doctors and dentists.

To do anything less would have been unthinkable given the circumstances.

BMA Cymru, which represents doctors here, says this goes "some way" to recognise the efforts and sacrifices of staff.

But it says the independent panel could have gone further, considering that for years pay rises have been below the level of inflation.