Junior doctors to hold talks with government after months of strike action over pay

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Junior doctors will meet government officials for talks aimed at ending the long-running dispute over pay and conditions in the English NHS.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had agreed to the talks, although the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the issue of pay would not be on the table.

The meeting is expected next week, although no date has yet been fixed. A DHSC spokesman said: “We are pleased the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee has agreed to enter talks, in the hope we will find a resolution and end the dispute. “We have been clear headline pay will not be on the table as doctors have already received a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we’ve accepted in full. READ MORE: Man who killed pregnant mum Frankie Hough slammed by family in court READ MORE: Car stolen in Manchester led to the downfall of the 'Pablo' drugs gang and its 'wannabe kingpin' leader “This means doctors who started their hospital training this year have received a 10.3 per cent pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8 per cent.” The BMA said: “We have agreed to talks with DHSC.

We will be meeting with them next week and will listen to what they have to say.” Consultants are also due to meet with the government in an effort to resolve their separate dispute.