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Family doctors get 0% pay award Family doctors get 0% pay award
(10 minutes later)
Family doctors will not be given a pay rise this year, the government has announced.Family doctors will not be given a pay rise this year, the government has announced.
All public sector pay awards - for other NHS staff, the armed forces and civil servants - are below inflation.All public sector pay awards - for other NHS staff, the armed forces and civil servants - are below inflation.
But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said GPs were already well rewarded, and their profits had soared by 50% since a new contract was introduced.But Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said GPs were already well rewarded, and their profits had soared by 50% since a new contract was introduced.
GP leaders said the announcement was a "grievous insult" to family doctors, and warned many may leave the NHS.
Hospital consultants are to get a flat rate raise of £1,000 per year, while trainee doctors will receive £650.Hospital consultants are to get a flat rate raise of £1,000 per year, while trainee doctors will receive £650.
GPs are well-rewarded for the work they do Health Secretary Patricia HewittGPs are well-rewarded for the work they do Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt
This adds up to an average 2% pay boost when the pay awards come into force.This adds up to an average 2% pay boost when the pay awards come into force.
The pay deals, decided by pay review bodies and accepted by the government, also give dentists a 2% pay rise.The pay deals, decided by pay review bodies and accepted by the government, also give dentists a 2% pay rise.
Nurses, and other healthcare professionals, are to receive 2.5%.Nurses, and other healthcare professionals, are to receive 2.5%.
The awards are to be staged, with 1.5% to be given in April and the remainder in November.The awards are to be staged, with 1.5% to be given in April and the remainder in November.
Quality targetsQuality targets
But GPs are the only NHS staff to be given no increase.But GPs are the only NHS staff to be given no increase.
The decision comes after the Health Secretary told the BBC News website in January that the amount of profit GPs could make under the new contract, introduced in 2004, should have been capped.The decision comes after the Health Secretary told the BBC News website in January that the amount of profit GPs could make under the new contract, introduced in 2004, should have been capped.
Since the deal started, average GP pay has passed the £100,000 barrier.Since the deal started, average GP pay has passed the £100,000 barrier.
A zero increase equates to a pay cut Dr Hamish Meldrum, British Medical Association GP committee chairman
The BMA said doctors had performed well on targets to improve quality, which was tied to income under the contract.The BMA said doctors had performed well on targets to improve quality, which was tied to income under the contract.
But Dr Simon Fradd, a former negotiator with the BMA, has said the team were stunned when the government offered them the deal, which took their basic pay down but removed the requirement to work evenings and weekends and added in the quality targets. But Dr Simon Fradd, a former negotiator with the BMA, has said the team were stunned by how good the deal being offered was.
Announcing the pay deals, Ms Hewitt said: "GP profits are estimated to have increased by more than 50% since the introduction of the new contract. Announcing the pay deal on Thursday, Ms Hewitt said: "GP profits are estimated to have increased by more than 50% since the introduction of the new contract.
"This has come with significant improvements in the quality and range of services for patients, but I welcome that the review body has recognised that GPs are well-rewarded for the work they do.""This has come with significant improvements in the quality and range of services for patients, but I welcome that the review body has recognised that GPs are well-rewarded for the work they do."
She added: "We appreciate that nurses will be disappointed by the staging of their award. 'Demoralised'
"However, overall earnings growth in the NHS will be around 4.5% in 2007/08 as a result of this pay award, the government's pay reforms and opportunities for career progression. But Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's GP's committee, said it was a "black day" for general practice.
"For nurses in particular, I expect the average earnings of nurses to rise by 4.9% next year, above the national average." ?This is a grievous insult to GPs. A zero increase equates to a pay cut.
Steve Barnett, director of NHS Employers said: "We see the sense of taking an approach across the public sector and believe this is a pragmatic settlement." "For the second year running, not only will GPs get nothing to keep up with the cost of living, they will still have to meet all the annual increases of running their surgeries including paying their staff."
He added: "The staging of increases will be seen as sensible by many employers facing financial pressures." He said GPs had worked "flat out" to deliver top quality care.
Dr Meldrum added that the announcement, combined with a cap on pensions announced previously could cause GPs to leave the health service.
"It would not surprise me if many GPs feel they should cut their losses and leave the NHS. This blow will be the breaking point for many and that will be a dire loss for patients."
Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee, said the senior doctors would be "angered and demoralised" by the flat rate awards.
He added: "It will be extremely difficult for them to feel motivated to innovative and improve patient care in a service that yet again fails to recognise their huge contribution to the NHS.
Steve Barnett, director of NHS Employers said the awards were a "pragmatic settlement", adding that staged increases would be seen as sensible by employers facing financial pressures.