As of this afternoon, the junior doctor strikes in Scotland have been called off. Today, the Scottish government and the BMA Scotland’s Junior Doctor Committee announced a brand new, three-pronged deal in a bid to end the pay dispute. Junior doctors in Scotland will receive a single pay rise of 12.4 per cent for this year, and over the following three years, the government has guaranteed a minimum pay rise in line with the rate of inflation for each financial year. Not only that, contract negotiations with the aim of improving both working conditions and training will begin this autumn, to be implemented by April 2026.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has been desperate to avoid healthcare workers striking since he was health secretary and it was a success he cited regularly during the leadership contest. Perhaps the approach of his 100 day milestone — today — pushed the First Minister to take bigger steps in the race to stop the strikes.
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