**Doctors and Dentists in Wales to Receive Above-Inflation Pay Rise, but Unions Say the Increase Falls Short**
Doctors and dentists working within the NHS in Wales are set to receive a pay increase that exceeds the current inflation rate, according to an announcement from the Welsh Government. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles confirmed that from 1 April 2025, NHS Wales medics will receive a 4% pay rise, while other NHS staff members will benefit from a 3.6% increase. Both of these pay awards are set to be backdated and align with similar rises given to NHS employees in England.
These pay decisions are based on recommendations presented by the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB), which considered the prevailing economic context. The adjustments come at a time when inflation in April 2025 edged up to 3.5%, representing the highest level since January 2024, and rising against the previous month’s figure of 2.6%.
However, the response from unions representing NHS staff has been less than enthusiastic. Some union leaders have voiced significant criticism, arguing the uplift is insufficient when set against the backdrop of long-term pay erosion. The Royal College of Nursing’s executive director in Wales, Helen Whyley, stated that the announcement arrived almost two months after the NHS Pay Review Body submitted its report to the UK government and described the delay as a further blow to already low staff morale.
Whyley said, “This announcement comes far too late for many, leaving nurses who are already under immense pressure feeling increasingly undervalued. The delay in recognition is particularly disheartening at a time when staffing shortages and workloads have never been higher.” Her statement reflects a growing sense of frustration within the nursing workforce, compounded by the persistent challenges they face on the front lines.
Similarly, the British Medical Association (BMA) has taken issue with the Welsh Government over the scale of the pay award. Dr Iona Collins, chair of BMA’s Welsh Council, described the 1% rise above inflation as “nowhere near addressing the pay erosion suffered by doctors over the past sixteen years.” She noted that NHS doctors in Wales have experienced a decline in pay worth at least 19% in real terms since the mid-2000s, an issue which, according to Collins, remains unaddressed by the recent settlement.
Dr Collins went on to highlight additional concerns within the profession, including what she described as chronic underfunding of general medical services contracts. “General practice in Wales remains financially precarious, requiring urgent remedy,” she remarked. The BMA representative also emphasised that doctors are coping with record-breaking patient waiting lists, high stress, and increasing incidences of exhaustion and burnout. Many in the profession, she argued, are having to sacrifice their own wellbeing to meet patient care demands.
Despite these concerns, the Welsh Government maintains that the pay awards are fair and recognise the critical contributions of NHS staff. They argue that the above-inflation increases signal a continued commitment to maintaining recruitment and retention across NHS Wales. However, some commentators have countered that the incremental gains are unlikely to halt the ongoing exodus of highly trained professionals from the public health sector.
The unions have indicated that they will undertake further consultation with their members in light of the new pay offer. The BMA has called for urgent discussions with the Cabinet Secretary, suggesting that further actions, including potential industrial measures, may not be off the table if members’ concerns are not addressed.
This latest development sits within the wider context of ongoing debates across the UK regarding public sector pay, workforce morale, and the sustainability of the NHS workforce. As the conversation continues, both the Welsh Government and union representatives appear set for further dialogue—though the prospect of a fully resolved dispute over pay and conditions appears as remote as ever.