\n<\/p>\n
Dr David Farren, chair of BMA’s NI consultants committee, said pay was central to recruitment and retention of doctors and hindered the delivery of a sustainable and safe health service.<\/p>\n
“There is palpable anger among our members at continuing sub-inflationary, late pay awards while we work beyond capacity in under-supported services,” he said. <\/p>\n
“This annual uncertainty over when we will receive our pay award reinforces the widespread feeling that we are not valued, and leads to doctors seeking better paid roles elsewhere.”<\/p>\n
He said this impacted service delivery and it was “unacceptable that our government continues to let this happen”.<\/p>\n
It comes after the Royal College of Nursing announced on Wednesday that it will ballot its members on industrial action and strike action over pay.<\/p>\n
The union said the move came after many months of inaction on the pay award.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the NHS pay review body recommended a 3.3% pay increase for staff across all pay bands.<\/p>\n
While nurses and healthcare workers in England and Wales have received their award, nursing staff in Northern Ireland have not.<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement the DoH said the health minister was clear that the 2026\/27 award should be implemented and pay parity with colleagues in NHS England restored as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n