BMA - Response to the announcement of pay award for armed forces doctors - 22 May 08

• Extract from : http://tinyurl.com/4cjjp9

Commenting on the today’s (22 May 2008) announcement of a 2.2% increase in basic military pay for armed forces doctors and a 3.7% increase in the pay of General Medical Practitioners, Dr Brendan McKeating, Chair of the BMA’s Armed Forces Committee said:

• “Firstly we would like to thank Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence for announcing this year’s pay award at the BMA’s annual conference of armed forces doctors. This year’s pay award is comprised of two uplifts, an increase in basic pay and an increase in the x factor* that reflects the additional pay armed forces doctors receive when compared with their civilian colleagues.
• “It is pleasing to see a 3.7% pay rise for GPs serving in the armed forces. There has been a problem retaining GP’s in the Defence Medical Service which is in part due to the large pay gap that exists between armed forces GPs and their civilian counterparts. We hope that this pay award will help stem the flow of these doctors from the armed forces to the NHS.
• “Although other groups of doctors were only awarded increases in basic pay of 2.2%, the increase in the x factor will be welcomed. The complex nature of this pay award means that we will have to look at the proposals in detail to see what the new package will mean for all armed forces doctors.”

He added:

• “We look forward to working with the MoD to develop joint proposals on targeting the value of NHS local Clinical Excellence Awards within the Defence Medical Services Consultants’ pay for next year.”

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Notes :
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommended:

• An increase of 2.2% for Defence Medical Services Medical and Dental officers, including all reservist equivalents
• An increase of 3.7% for General Medical Practitioners and General Dental Practitioners
• An increase in the X factor from 13% to 14% will be implemented with phasing arrangements that may benefit many in the senior ranks
• An increase of 2.2% in the values of Defence Medical Services Clinical Excellent Award and Defence Medical Services trainer pay for General Medical and Dental Practitioners

*The X-Factor is a percentage increase to basic pay which reflects the difference between the conditions of service experienced by members of the armed forces and conditions in civilian life, which cannot directly be taken into account by the job evaluation process

Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body report can be downloaded from the Office of Manpower Economics website
http://www.ome.uk.com/downloads/Supplement%20to%20the%2037th%20Report%20-%202008.pdf

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