Resident doctors in Northern Ireland have voted to accept a 4% pay increase.
The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said that in a referendum which closed this week, almost 95% of members voted to accept the pay offer.
Resident doctors, who were previously known as junior doctors, range from being newly qualified doctors earning less than £13 per-hour to experienced surgeons, oncologists and cardiologists earning £30 per-hour.
The union added that in addition to pay uplift for the 2023/2024 pay scale, the deal includes an agreement with the Department of Health to establish a timeline for contract reform.
It also includes the rollout of changes to enhance medical education for resident doctors.
In a statement, Dr Fiona Griffin, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland resident doctors committee said she was glad members had voted to accept the offer, but added that there was still a “long way to go”.
“We are glad that members have accepted our recommendation to accept this pay offer,” she said.
“Taking industrial action was a last resort, but resident doctors could not keep working as they were without financial recognition for the incredible job they are doing under extremely difficult circumstances. We have been undervalued for too long.”
Resident doctors took strike action three times last year. The first was a 24-hour walk out in March, followed by two 48-hour periods of action in May and in June.
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The walkouts saw resident doctors withdraw their labour from hospitals and GP surgeries across NI.
Dr Griffin added: “This pay agreement is the first step towards full pay restoration. We still have a long way to go.
“Our members are committed to addressing years of pay erosion and making sure that the skills, knowledge and commitment of resident doctors in Northern Ireland is properly recognised.
“We will now work with the Department to address the inadequacies in our current contract and continue to fight for better terms and conditions for resident doctors, alongside restoring our pay to 2008 levels.
“These issues need to be addressed urgently so we don’t lose more doctors from our health service. Our fight continues.”
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.