British Medical Association urges chief minister to intervene in doctors pay dispute

The union believes industrial action will be necessary if no improved offer is secured

The British Medical Association has written to the chief minister, urging him to intervene in a pay dispute with Manx Care.

The BMA believes his involvement could prevent industrial action by doctors.

No agreement has been reached on a pay increase since April 2023, and doctors now consider industrial action increasingly necessary to secure a better offer.

The current offer of six percent from April 2023 was 'overwhelmingly rejected'.

Recent negotiations were reportedly cancelled, with no enhanced offer forthcoming, leaving the BMA to conclude that it has no choice but to ballot members for industrial action.

It adds there remains a 'window of opportunity' to conclude an agreement while preparations for that ballot are underway.

Chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan says: "We will leave no stone unturned as we try to resolve this dispute and avert industrial action.

"It’s disappointing to not have been given a reasonable offer from Manx Care, but we’re hoping intervention by the Chief Minister could help us make progress.

"Doctors on the Isle of Man deserve to be paid fairly for the essential work they do.  All we are asking is to see the real terms pay cuts we’ve been receiving reversed."

Manx Radio has approached the Isle of Man Government for comment.