AQW 11476/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/05/2024
Answered On Date: 21/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps his Department will take to address the pay contracts for junior doctors.

Answer:

My officials have met with representatives from the BMA Junior Doctor Committee on several occasions at which a number of pay related and non-pay related issues where discussed.

The BMA have been advised that any increase in pay can only be delivered through contract reform which would bring efficiency, modernisation of terms and conditions, and improvements for both the junior doctor cohort and for the wider HSC. Such contract reform could be backdated to 1 April 2024 to provide assurance of a commitment to address pay, in parallel with an undertaking from my Department to an intensive programme of work to bring about the required contractual changes.

Disappointingly the BMA JDC have unilaterally disengaged from these discussions. They have subsequently advised that their members will be taking 48-hour industrial action in May and June.

Despite this my door remains open to the BMA (JDC) to engage in dialogue on these issues. We have also advised the BMA (JDC) that the Labour Relations Agency is willing to work with both parties to try to find a resolution to the dispute.