Association of Anaesthetists responds to doctors’ pay deal announcement
Responding to the announcement from the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB), the Association of Anaesthetists have said the offer of a below-inflationary pay rise will “do little to raise the spirits of many doctors who are working hard to reduce the care backlog and have been pushed to their limits over recent years”, and “will make the crisis in retaining anaesthetists worse.”
Dr Mike Nathanson, President of the Association of Anaesthetists, said: “Anaesthetists were working flat-out on the frontline of the pandemic and are now working hard to reduce the backlog in elective care. This is despite huge shortages in the workforce – over 1,400 across the UK – along with significant pressures on existing doctors which is forcing many anaesthetists to consider leaving the profession.
“In addition, SAS doctors and anaesthetists in training, due to pre-existing pay deals, won’t benefit from this uplift, resulting in an unfair disparity in the workforce. We don’t think this is justifiable in the current climate.
“The last thing the NHS needs right now is to lose more doctors. At a time when we all need to get on with clearing the elective surgery backlog and easing pressure in intensive care and emergency departments, we need the Government to do all it can to improve retention.”