Vaughan Gething, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I am responding today to the 46th Report of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) which was laid before Parliament on 24 July 2018. I am grateful to the Chair and members of the DDRB for their report and I welcome their robust independent recommendation and observations. I know too that their advice is greatly valued by NHS management, trade unions and staff representatives alike.
I am pleased to announce today that I have been able to accept the recommendations of the DDRB in full.
This includes:
• a 2% base increase for salaried doctors and dentists, salaried General Medical Practitioners (GMPs) and independent contractor GMPs and General Dental Practitioners (GDPs);
• an additional 2% for independent contractor GMPs, salaried GMPs and to the GMP trainers’ grant and the GMP appraisers’ rate;
• an additional 1.5% for SAS doctors
This pay rise recognises the value and dedication of hardworking doctors and dentists and their key contribution to the NHS whilst targeting pay as recommended by the DDRB, and taking into account affordability and the prioritising of patient care.
I am pleased that the BMA Cymru Wales have returned to working in social partnership as part of the Welsh Partnership Forum with the wider health unions, employers and government. We welcome their commitment to continue to work with us in partnership to deliver the ambitions set out in A Healthier Wales, both contributing to the strategic agenda and by addressing challenges of equality, recruitment and retention and productivity within the medical workforce, and delivery of the Primary Care Model for Wales.
The UK Treasury has provided no additional funding to help cover the cost of any recommended uplift above 1% and so I have invested additional funding provided by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to enable this deal to be implemented without undermining delivery of services.
This pay deal alongside my announcement last week about Agenda for Change staff is a very positive demonstration of our commitment to the whole of the NHS workforce in Wales. We are keen to maintain positive progress supporting the NHS workforce to boost their health, wellbeing and engagement and so deliver excellent care is a top priority in Wales.