Health

BMA Cymru Wales to put pay offer to doctors in pay dispute

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2024

DOCTORS’ union the BMA has secured pay offers for doctors working in secondary care in Wales following pay talks with the Welsh Government.

Members of BMA Cymru Wales including Junior doctors, SAS doctors and Consultants will now vote on whether to accept the three separate offers.

Junior doctors have been offered a 7.4% additional uplift taking the total to a 12.4% uplift for the 23/24 financial year and will be back dated to April 2023.

A revised consultant pay scale is proposed, which provides higher career earnings, significantly better starting pay, and an additional pay rise of up to 10.1% for some consultant doctors.

For SAS doctors, pay offers for newer contracts include increases of 6.1-9.2%, as well as an additional uplift for associate specialists, senior doctors who are on closed contracts.

The offers, which also include non-pay elements and reform of pay scales and contract terms,* are the result of weeks of pay negotiations which began in April this year after sustained pressure from BMA Cymru Wales including 10 days of strike action by junior doctors and planned industrial action by senior doctors which were suspended last month to start the talks.

From Wednesday 12 June to 26 June members will vote on whether to accept the offers.

Dr Oba Babs Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh Junior Doctors Committee said: “We entered pay negotiations in good faith to reach a deal that will put us on the path to achieving full pay restoration to address the years of erosion to our pay We’re satisfied that this offer delivers on our ambition. This offer puts us well on the path to pay restoration.

“We are therefore encouraging members to vote to accept this deal. It is a testament to the resolve they have shown in taking part in industrial action to achieve a better future for the profession

Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ Consultants committee said: “We are pleased to have been able to reach an offer that we believe honours our overwhelming strike mandate and offers significant improvements in pay for consultants across their careers.

“The offer is recognition of the hard work and dedication of senior doctors and signifies a commitment to attracting and retaining doctors in Wales by offering a fairer more competitive value for their service.

“Whilst ultimately it will be up for members to decide, we believe the offer is a big step in the right direction for the profession and so we are recommending that members accept it. We will continue to work hard to improve your pay and working conditions, and we understand this is just the first step.”

Dr Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ SAS doctor committee said: “We are pleased to be able to bring an offer worthy of the hard work and dedication shown by SAS doctors in Wales. We know voting to take industrial action was a very difficult decision for our members but in voting to strike they were choosing to stand up for themselves and their colleagues.

“By taking part and getting us here they have played a part in securing a better future for SAS doctors in Wales. We are encouraging members to vote to accept this offer.”

In August last year the BMA’s committees representing all secondary care doctors in Wales voted to enter a trade dispute with the Welsh Government after being offered another below inflation pay uplift of just 5% for the 23/24 financial year.

The RCN in wales has responded. Helen Whyley, Executive Director of Royal College of Nursing Wales said: “All NHS workers deserve a proper pay rise, but nursing staff are still waiting at the back of the queue. They feel let down and misled by this government.”

“The repeated firm position from the Welsh government that there was no money in the pot for NHS nursing staff salaries was either untrue or demonstrates that they can’t
manage their finances. Either way it shows a total disregard to principle of equity of approach to NHS negotiations.”

“Actions speak louder than words. This announcement comes only
days after the First Minister opened our annual RCN Congress on home soil in Newport, speaking of his unwavering support for nursing staff. It shows his government support is merely hot air and no real commitment. His government have failed to fulfil the promises
made to nurses in last year’s pay award and now they add insult to that injury by substantially increasing only the doctors’ pay award for 2023/24.”

“Congress saw the RCN launch its general election manifesto, with the leading priority being a substantial pay rise for all nursing staff. The nursing workforce highlighted
inadequate staffing levels, treating patients in corridors, limited or no access to continuing professional development and the increased demands of delivering patient care. All of these pressures lead to severe moral distress, leading to an increase in nursing
staff so overwhelmed with pressure from work that they even considered taking their own lives. This is unacceptable.

“All health care staff deserve to be paid fairly and be recognised for the safety critical work that they do. Our members will be deeply discouraged to hear that their
sacrifices and unrelenting efforts during the RCN Wales pay campaign in Wales has been cast aside by Welsh government.

“We will be urgently raising this with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the First Minister urging them to address fair pay for nursing now.”

Eluned Morgan MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care said on Friday (Jun 6): “We have today made a formal pay award offer to each of the three BMA branches of practices – junior doctors, SAS doctors and consultants – for 2023-24, following successful negotiations over the last two months.

“We would like to thank members of the BMA’s negotiating teams and NHS Employers for the constructive nature of the talks, which have enabled us to make these formal offers, which will now be put to the BMA membership for consideration. Each of the three BMA elected representative committees are recommending members accept the offers.

“While strike action has been paused during negotiations, if these offers are accepted, it will end this dispute and industrial action, meaning doctors will return to work in Wales for the benefit of patients and NHS services.

“The negotiations have been robust and while the aim was to end the 2023-24 dispute and prevent further disruptive strike action, these offers also ensure the additional investment in doctors’ pay is balanced against commitments towards operational reforms, which seek to address productivity and efficiency and achieving future contract reform. These pay awards, if accepted, will also help to address inequalities in the senior NHS medical workforce.

“These offers are at the limit of our affordability. We have been open and transparent about our financial constraints with our social partners during negotiations.”

The Welsh Government confirmed that for Junior Doctors, the offer consists of a 12.4% pay uplift, backdated to 1 April 2023. This includes the 5% pay lift for 2023-24, which has already been paid. If agreed, this offer is outside of the Doctor and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) recommendation for 2023-24. This offer is in line with the pay award accepted by junior doctors in Scotland.

It was confirmed that all parties will commit to re-entering contract negotiations as soon as practicable once a new BMA junior doctors committee is elected this year with the ambition of reaching an agreement that, subject to approval by BMA members, would begin implementation in 2025-26. The contract negotiations will build on the contract rejected in 2022, while recognising that significant changes will be required.

The Welsh Government and the BMA Welsh consultant committee have agreed the time is right to reform the current pay structure, which is more than 20 years old. A modern pay structure will better support recruitment and retention, better reward performance, address the gender pay gap, and support progression through the career of consultants in Wales. The new pay structure will be backdated to 1 January 2024. If this offer is agreed, it will be outside the DDRB recommendation for 2023-24.

The BMA rate card will be withdrawn if the offer is accepted with immediate effect at both local and national levels in Wales.

All parties have agreed to an all-Wales job planning policy being developed and implemented during 2024-25 along with an NHS Wales recruitment template for newly-recruited consultants in Wales.

It has also been agreed that scoping work will be undertaken during 2024-25 in preparation for contract reform talks. Any reformed contract will need to be fully modernised against current and future requirements of the NHS Wales for the benefit of patients and the wellbeing of consultants.

In 2021, a new specialty doctor contract was agreed in social partnership and implemented as part of a multi-year pay deal. This offer addresses the unintended imbalances in the pay scale for doctors on the 2021 contract and the 2008 contract to ensure consistency and fairness across the specialty doctor workforce.

This investment will encourage more doctors to take up the new contracts, which offer modernised terms and conditions to ensure that doctors and patients benefit from the reformed contract and working conditions.

In 2021, a new specialist doctor contract was agreed in social partnership and implemented as part of a multi-year pay deal. This offer addresses the unintended imbalances between the specialty doctor and specialist pay scales to ensure a career progression pathway is maintained across the workforce. It will resolve the current issue that exists where the top pay point of the 2008 specialty doctor pay scale is higher than the starting salary for the specialist grade.

The Welsh Government says it has listened to the BMA Welsh SAS committee and while recognising this is a closed grade, recognises the rationale for associate specialists to receiving comparable levels of pay against the consultant pay scale, given the skills and experience of associate specialists working on consultant rotas.

A spokesperson said: “The offer includes uplifting the 2022-23 pay scales by a further 4%, making a total of 9% for 2023-24 backdated to 1 January 2024 for associate specialists.

“The BMA rate card will be withdrawn if the offer is accepted with immediate effect at both local and national levels in Wales.

“Full details of each pay offer will be communicated through BMA Wales to their members.

“We would like to take this opportunity to encourage doctors who have any questions about the offer to speak to their BMA representatives as this is a fair offer to address the pay dispute.

“We look forward to working in social partnership with all NHS and health trade unions to discuss the 2024-25 pay award.”

Charity

Charity campaign showcases powerful bereavement support for local families

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

HYWEL DDA Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, is calling on local communities to help them provide comfort and support to families who have lost a child.

The charity is running a campaign this spring to highlight its Wish Fund which provides support to families during times of bereavement.

The Wish Fund supports Hywel Dda’s Paediatric Palliative Care team to provide personalised support to families of children and young people receiving palliative care, and helps them create treasured memories when their child sadly passes away. From hand moulds and fingerprint jewellery to memory boxes and specialist sibling support, the fund ensures bereaved families are not alone during the most devastating moments of their lives.

Frankie’s parents Phil and Veronica shared how the Wish Fund helped them during their darkest days:

“We had the absolute pleasure of looking after the most beautiful, awesome, wonderful, loving and brave little lad who was very poorly in the last years of his life.

“We met his Paediatric Palliative Care team two years before his passing and boy what an awesome team they are.

“We will never be able to thank the Wish Fund enough. Thanks to the Wish Fund, we had the most amazing mementos, a Christmas bauble, a necklace with Frankie’s fingerprint on it and a mould of his hand. Those simple objects are our most treasured possessions along with a lock of his beautiful hair.”

The Wish Fund relies on charitable donations, and every contribution can have a lasting impact:

£15 provides a teddy for a bereaved sibling
£30 funds a sibling support session
£50 creates a hand mould keepsake
£70 provides a Memory Box
£85 funds bespoke hand‑printed jewellery

These meaningful items offer comfort to parents, carers and siblings who are navigating unimaginable loss.

Rebecca McDonald, Clinical Nurse Specialist – Paediatric Palliative Care, said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and continues to donate to the Wish Fund.

“Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we have been able to provide meaningful memory-making items and bereavement materials. These resources make an immeasurable difference in helping us support our families through the most difficult time.

“Your compassion and support truly help us bring comfort, dignity, and lasting memories to the families we care for. Thank you for your support in helping us make a big difference to families we support across our health board.”

To find out more or to donate to the Wish Fund, please visit: https://hywelddahealthcharities.nhs.wales/campaigns/the-wish-fund/

Business

Narberth Kadinsky gallery to dental surgery refused

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to convert a former art gallery to a dental surgery on the edge of a Pembrokeshire town have been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Ahmed Abouserwel, through agent A.D Architectural Design Consultants LTD, sought permission for a change of use of the former Kadinsky gallery, Redstone Road, Narberth, to a dental surgery, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said: “The existing open plan gallery space will be transformed into the main dentist area, with a glazed internal lobby, leading directly into the open reception / waiting area. There will be five treatment rooms accessed directly off the reception, with a private archive room behind the reception desk.

“The rear lean-to projection will be extended to the north to accommodate a proposed decontamination room and to re-model the Staff area and W.C provision (number to remain as existing).”

It said the proposal would create 10 full and three part-time jobs.

An officer report recommending refusal said concerns were raised by the county Highways authority, who having assessed the application on safety, capacity and policy considerations, recommended the application be REFUSED on the grounds of insufficient evidence provided.

“The submitted design and access statement and block plan indicate on-site parking provision for 16 vehicles, located to the north and west of the building. The application form states that the site will employ 10 full-time staff and three part-time staff. However, the submission does not differentiate between practitioners and ancillary/support staff.”

It said, on planning guidance, health centres require three spaces per practitioner; and one space per three ancillary staff, adding: “As the applicant has not provided a breakdown of staff roles, the Highway Authority is unable to assess whether the proposed parking provision is adequate.”

It stressed: “Whist there is no in-principle objection to the redevelopment of this established site for a dental surgery, insufficient information has been provided to fully assess the proposal.”

It was refused on the grounds including it would lead “to the unjustified loss of an employment premises in a location which contributes to the local supply of employment land and buildings,” adding: “Insufficient evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the building is no longer suitable or viable for continued employment use, nor that there is overriding community need to justify its loss.”

It was also refused on the grounds that “Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the development would operate without giving rise to unacceptable highway safety impacts or on street parking pressure”.

Health

Patients in Wales waiting years for autoimmune diagnosis

Published

3 days ago

April 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Study led by Swansea University says long delays, limited specialist access and referral barriers are leaving some patients worse off than those elsewhere in the UK

PEOPLE in Wales with autoimmune and rheumatological conditions are facing long waits for diagnosis, poor access to specialist care and repeated obstacles when trying to secure treatment outside their local area, according to new research.

The study, led by Swansea University, examined the experiences of patients with illnesses including lupus and other autoimmune disorders. It drew on interviews, survey findings and Freedom of Information responses from health boards across Wales.

Researchers found that specialist provision remains limited in some parts of the country. Some patients reported having no access to a lupus specialist in their area, while FOI responses indicated there is only one NHS neuro-ophthalmologist in Wales for patients with neurological or visual problems linked to autoimmune disease.

The report also highlighted a lack of diagnostic services. None of the Welsh health boards that responded said they currently provide nailfold capillaroscopy, a test used to help identify conditions such as scleroderma.

Diagnosis in rheumatology can also be difficult because many of the conditions involved are complex and may develop gradually over time. Illnesses such as ankylosing spondylitis can be mistaken in the early stages for more common causes of pain, while autoimmune disorders often present with symptoms that overlap with other conditions.

Patients may require a combination of investigations before a diagnosis can be confirmed, including HLA-B27 testing, routine blood work, MRI scans, X-rays and detailed clinical assessment. Doctors also rely heavily on patient interviews to build up a picture of pain, stiffness, mobility and the wider pattern of symptoms.

There have also been local pressures on services in west Wales. At Withybush Hospital, delays were caused after the departure of a specialist consultant, and it took some time for that post to be filled. That consultant has now been replaced. However, it is understood the workload remained heavy, with the specialist working through a backlog of cases.

In some cases, patients may also feel rheumatology is treated as a lower-profile service. At Withybush Hospital, for example, the department has been based in a portacabin in the hospital car park, which it shares with the lymphoedema service — a setting that can give the impression that two important but often overlooked specialties are being accommodated on the margins of the wider hospital system.

Rheumatology also places a significant burden on the NHS because of the cost of long-term treatment and follow-up care, although that is not the main focus of the study. Biological drugs used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis can cost around £500 for a pack of four injections, according to local hospital sources. Patients on those medications often also require regular blood monitoring, consultant reviews, specialist nurse support and physiotherapy. The Herald understands that more than 1,000 patients in Pembrokeshire are currently being managed through this treatment pathway.

Researchers said patients were also being held back by the referral system. Under current NHS Wales rules, doctors must apply to their local health board for permission to send patients for treatment outside the area or across the border into England. The study said decision-making around those requests was often inconsistent and unfair.

One patient with systemic lupus erythematosus told researchers he waited two years for approval to be referred to England, despite believing the process should only have taken weeks.

The study found that patients in Wales often face longer journeys to diagnosis than elsewhere in the UK. In the sample reviewed by researchers, the average time from first symptoms to diagnosis was around 11 years, compared with around seven years across the UK.

Patients described the effect those delays had on their health. One woman in her 30s said requests to see a specialist in a neighbouring health board had been turned down, and that her lupus had worsened as a result. Another patient said access to care became more difficult after moving from England to Wales.

The research was led by Rupert Harwood of Swansea University Medical School, who himself lives with several autoimmune conditions.

His own experience reflects the wider concerns raised in the report. After developing visual symptoms in 2016, he was advised to see a neuro-ophthalmologist, but no such service was then available in Wales. A referral to England was not successfully made until 2025, and he is still waiting for an appointment.

Mr Harwood said the present system can leave patients at a disadvantage if they cannot afford to seek private treatment outside Wales.

The study concludes that while NHS Wales rheumatology teams provide high-quality care, patients in Wales face additional barriers compared with those in England.

Researchers are calling for a review of the out-of-area referral system, better access to specialist services and greater investment in diagnostic testing to reduce delays and improve outcomes.