Information for the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB):
Review for 2012
Pay uplifts for NHS doctors and dentists are determined by the four UK Governments in light of recommendations made by an independent body – the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB). This body bases its recommendations on evidence from the four UK Health Departments, professional organisations and NHS Employers.
Following the Scottish Spending Review, the Scottish Government gave consideration to the implications of the settlement I Scotland and set a Public Sector Pay Policy for 2012-13 which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth announced on 21 September 2011. The Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy set out that pay will again be frozen (zero percent basic award) for all staff earning more than £21,000.
In her letter to the DDRB of 9 October 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Wellbeing and Cities Strategy stated that the Scottish Government would not seek any pay recommendations from the DDRB in 2012-13. However it would provide information rather than evidence about motivation, recruitment, retention and other aspects of the medical and dental workforces. The Cabinet Secretary further confirmed that it would not be necessary for the DDRB to make any recommendations on the need for any earnings or contract uplifts for independent contractor General Medical practitioners (GMP’s) or General Dental practitioners (GDP’s) in Scotland. The Scottish Government did however provide a paper on GMP's for the DDRB’s information.
In relation to dental practice expenses of independent contractors in general dental services (GDS) the Cabinet Secretary stated that she would welcome the DDRB carrying out a detailed consideration and assessment of all the changes that have been made to practitioners’ earnings and expenses in Scotland. The Scottish Government provided detailed information on Scottish Independent GDS expenses and at the request of the DDRB also provided supplementary GDS information.
The DDRB 40th report and recommendations and full report are expected to be published around March 2012.