The government has set out plans for a 2.4% pay uplift for doctors in England in 2027/28, prompting criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA), which warns that another below-inflation settlement could fuel further industrial unrest.
The figure appears in written evidence submitted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to the independent Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB), published on 19 October 2026. It is a planning assumption and government recommendation, not a final pay award.
Government says higher award would put pressure on NHS budgets
In its submission, the department said it had developed financial and delivery plans that could accommodate a 2.4% pay uplift without compromising headline government health commitments. It warned that an award above that level would require ministers to consider how to fund it within existing budgets and could affect healthcare delivery.
The evidence covers the 2027/28 pay round, including consultants, resident doctors, specialty and associate specialist doctors and general medical practitioners. The independent DDRB will consider evidence from the government, professional bodies, employers and other organisations before making recommendations.
BMA warns of further disputes
Responding to the submission, BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin criticised the proposed uplift as insufficient and warned of consequences for recruitment and retention. The association argues that a rise below inflation would represent a reduction in doctors’ pay in real terms.
The BMA also highlighted existing disputes involving groups of doctors and warned that failure to improve the offer could increase the risk of further industrial action. That is a union warning, not an announcement of new strike dates in response to this proposal.
What happens next?
The DDRB has not yet delivered its recommendation for 2027/28. The government will consider the review body’s advice before announcing a final award. The 2.4% figure therefore should not be treated as a pay rise already agreed or implemented.
The dispute illustrates the tension between government efforts to contain spending and doctors’ demands for pay restoration, amid continuing debate about NHS staffing and waiting times.