From November 2024, hospital dental trainees in England will be awarded an average pay uplift of 22.3% over two years.
The final pay offer was presented by the government following a two-year industrial action campaign across dentistry and medicine. A referendum showed that 87% of hospital dental trainees asked supported acceptance of the offer. This brings the current industrial action to a formal close.
Government negotiations with the British Dental Association (BDA) and British Medical Association (BMA) began in July.
Health secretary Wes Streeting described this as a ‘crucial step forward’. He said: ‘This government has been honest with the public about the terrible economic circumstances we inherited, and I have repeated that message in meetings with the junior doctors. But I am encouraged by our early meetings that there is a deal to be done.
‘Strikes have had a significant cost to patients, staff, and the NHS. Serious work is now underway to finally bring them to an end.’
Pay erosion
The BDA said the pay uplift was the first step towards combatting extensive pay erosion. The association has previously estimated that the average dentist has experienced a real-term pay cut of more than 40% since 200/9.
It said: ‘Our members should be proud that they played their part in giving a clear and unequivocal commitment to the wider pay campaign over a 22 month period, including standing on picket lines with their medical colleagues.
‘Their engagement in the campaign and response to the industrial action was pivotal in securing the offer that has now been accepted. It marks the start of further pay campaigning to address 15 years of pay erosion.’
The increase will include the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body pay uplift, which will also be backdated to 1 April 2024. It was announced in July that dentists and doctors would receive a 6% pay increase. This included:
- Salaried dentists, including those working in community dental services and public dental services
- Pay element of NHS dental contracts
- Consultants
- Dentists in training.
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