HUNDREDS of senior doctors who work for the trust which runs Colchester Hospital will no longer take part in strike action after accepting a pay rise.
Experienced doctors at the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust have agreed to a 2.85 per cent wage hike - in addition to the six per cent rise awarded last year.
The British Medical Association (BMA) accepted the new offer last week which will result in an extra £3,000 for senior doctors between four and seven years into their careers.
The pay offer means senior doctors – doctors who can practice independently without supervision – will no longer join industrial action.
NHS consultants – the most senior grade of doctors with overall responsibility for the care of patients in hospital - will also now see their pay start at £99,000 rather than £94,000 and top out at £132,000 instead of £126,000.
BMA consultant members narrowly rejected an offer this January which included a 4.95 per cent pay rise which only applied to consultants with over seven years of experience.
Dr Devender Khurana, BMA East of England consultants committee chair, said: “The last year has seen consultants in Essex fight for fair pay and a better pay review process through unprecedented strike action.
“Although the decision to strike was difficult, consultants held their resolve and did so on multiple occasions safely and effectively.
"For consultants in Essex, all eyes will be on the next pay review round where we expect to see the DDRB addressing historical losses that doctors have suffered.
“At the heart of this dispute was our concern for patients in the East of England and the future sustainability of the NHS. To protect patients and the NHS we must be able to keep our doctors. To keep doctors, we must value them."
Nick Hulme, chief executive of ESNEFT, is delighted with the news.
He said: “While pay is a matter for the Government and trade unions, it is welcome news for our patients and staff that a resolution has been found.”
Junior doctor strikes will continue, with the last and tenth junior doctor strike in February leading to nearly 600 appointments being postponed at ESNEFT.
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