A five-day strike by junior doctors is continuing today despite the government’s announcement of a 6% pay rise for NHS staff.

Pay for junior doctors will increase by an average of around 8.8% with rates uplifted by between 8.1% and 10.3% depending on training. Doctors, however, are calling for a pay rise of 35%, which the government has described as unreasonable.

Speaking yesterday, BMA chair of council, Professor Phil Banfield said: “This offer is exactly why so many doctors are feeling they have no option but to take industrial action as they have suffered years of below-inflation pay awards and once again the government and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) have both failed to address that in this year’s uplift.     

“Today’s announcement represents yet another pay cut in real terms and serves only to increase the losses faced by doctors after more than a decade’s worth of sub-inflation pay awards. It completely ignores the BMA’s calls to value doctors for their expertise by full pay restoration to 2008/2009 levels.”

Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay said: “We hugely value the work of all NHS staff.

“That’s why we’re giving junior doctors, consultants and senior NHS staff a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review bodies.

 “But it also balances the need to keep inflation in check while giving some staff significant pay increases.

 “We’ve made it clear this pay award is not up for negotiation and urge those unions still in dispute with the government to end their strikes immediately.”