Hunt’s 11% pay rise offer to junior doctors fails to avert ballot on action

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The revised offer1 from the UK government and NHS Employers of an 11% rise in basic pay to junior doctors as part of a new working contract has failed to prevent the BMA beginning a ballot of its junior doctor members on taking industrial action.

On 4 November England’s health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, issued a letter to all junior doctors in England outlining the offer attached to a new contract, which is due to begin in August next year.2

The letter give details of the government’s proposals for the contract, such as a basic 11% pay rise (even though in September the Department of Health said that its proposals would see the basic salary being “around 15% higher than it is now”), the maximum working week to be cut from 91 to 72 hours and a new maximum shift pattern, and a concession on working unsociable hours on Saturdays, which would mean normal hours …