Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB): written evidence - 2024-2025 pay round

I. Conclusions and Recommendations

225. You are aware the Scottish Government works within a fixed budget with many competing socio-economic demands on this. Despite this, we endeavour to invest, but we acknowledge however that the Health and Care system is under extreme pressure as a result of the ongoing impacts of Covid, Brexit and inflation, and UK Government spending decisions.

226. The Scottish Budget in December 2023 endeavours to balance the competing socio-economic demands we face but was clear that going forward, pay and workforce must, more than ever, be explicitly linked to both fiscal sustainability and to reform, in order to secure the delivery of effective public services over the medium term.

227. Whilst we recognise and respect the views of our stakeholders in relation to their own participation in the DDRB process and advocate for reform of the DDRB process to restore trust amongst the professions it serves, we continue to value and recognise the role and the independent view which the DDRB offers on doctors' and dentists' pay. We therefore invite you to consider this evidence and make recommendations for the year from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

228. Our remit letter to the DDRB from the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery Health and Social Care confirms the parameters which we wish the DDRB to work within for their 2024-25 Report.