Doctors, Teachers Receive Above-Inflation 4% Pay Rises Across UK NHS, Schools

Public sector workers in the UK, including doctors, dentists, teachers, and other NHS staff, are set to receive pay rises that outpace inflation, with doctors and teachers receiving a 4% increase and other NHS workers a 3.6% rise. These increases, recommended by independent pay review bodies, are above the current inflation rate of 3.5% and have been accepted by ministers to address longstanding pay erosion, especially among doctors whose real-term pay remains significantly lower than 16 years ago. However, the pay awards have led to tensions, with unions such as the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing threatening strike action if pay restoration is not fully addressed or if funding is deemed insufficient. Junior doctors, now called resident doctors, are receiving the highest increase of up to 6%, including a basic 4% rise plus a consolidated sum, which has caused friction given nurses’ lower pay rises. Education officials have indicated that schools will need to find some of the pay rise funding through improved productivity, raising concerns about budget pressures. Overall, while the pay awards aim to acknowledge the vital roles of these professions, union leaders stress the need for continued negotiations to prevent further industrial action.