---

Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration

My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Health has made the following written statement:

I am responding on behalf of my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the 45th Report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). The report has been laid before Parliament today (Cm 9441) and is attached. I am grateful to the Chair and members of the DDRB for their report.

We welcome the 45th report of the DDRB.

The Government is pleased to accept its recommendations for a 1 per cent increase for 2017/18 to:

• the national salary scales for salaried doctors and dentists. This will be in addition to incremental pay for those that are eligible;
• the maximum and minimum of the salary range for salaried general medical practitioners;
• pay, net of expenses, for independent contractor general medical and dental practitioners;
• the general medical practitioners trainers’ grant;
• the flexible pay premia included in the new junior doctors’ contract; and
• the value of the awards for consultants – Clinical Excellence Awards, Discretionary Points and Commitment Awards.

The Government also accepts the DDRB’s recommendations that the supplement payable to general practice specialty registrars should remain at 45 per cent of basic salary for those on the existing UK-wide contract and that the rate for general medical practitioner appraisers should remain at £500.

The Government accepts the recommendations to report to the DDRB on doctors and dentists taking early retirement and reasons for this.

The Government notes the recommendation for giving further consideration to pay targeting by specialty and geography.

The Government also notes the DDRB’s observation that there is at present insufficient evidence about aspects of our workforce of salaried general medical practitioners.