In England, Senior Medical Specialists have resolved their pay dispute with the government, accepting a new agreement that offers up to a 20% salary increase for the 2023-24 fiscal year. This resolution follows four strikes but does not include junior doctors, who are still in negotiations. The British Medical Association (BMA) and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) reported that 83% of members approved the recent offer, an improvement on a previously rejected proposal.

The agreement secures a backdated pay increase of 2.85% for consultants at the beginning of their careers, with expectations of further raises in the upcoming fiscal year, alongside a promise to reevaluate payment frameworks in depth.

Dr. Vishal Sharma from the British Medical Association (BMA) underscored the crucial role that both negotiation and industrial action played in finalising the deal, aiming to improve patient care and reduce the backlog of waiting lists.

While this agreement is a step forward for consultants, junior doctors' demand for a 35% pay raise is still outstanding, with a continued mandate for strikes. Unresolved disputes also persist in Wales and Northern Ireland, with junior doctors having taken action and consultants potentially following suit.