In a referendum that closed this week, 94.3% of resident doctors voted to accept the pay offer.

Resident doctors will now receive an additional 4% pay uplift to the 2023/2024 payscale and have agreed to establish a timeline for contract reform. The agreement also includes the rollout of changes to enhance medical education for resident doctors.

Dr Fiona Griffin, chair of BMA's Northern Ireland resident doctors committee, said: ‘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.'