GPs in Wales are to have a pay increase of 4% this year, it was announced today. The award, back-dated to April, reflects the growing competition for GPs across the UK.

The Welsh government has also out-flanked the English NHS by offering improved pay rises for hospital staff.

All salaried doctors will receive pay increases of 2%, back-dated to April, while those working in specialty and associate specialty grades will get an additional 1.5%. All pay increases are back-dated to April.

Welsh health secretary Vaughan Gething said: “This deal goes beyond what was agreed for doctors and dentists over the border and is yet another reason why Wales is a great place to train, work and live.”

Dr David Bailey, British Medical Association Welsh chair, said the news has “shown that concrete steps are being taken to ensure Wales is an attractive place for doctors to work and will go some way towards addressing the recruitment and retention challenges we are facing.”