12.02.13
Foundation Trust Network questions national pay deals
New ways of negotiating NHS trust staff pay must be considered, the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) has urged.
Chief executive Chris Hopson has suggested that pay should be set regionally, or trust by trust, and says a clearer link between annual pay increments and performance is necessary. More needs to be done to reform annual increments of pay, he said.
He said: “Can the NHS, for example, continue to afford a system that gives 60% of staff a 2% pay increase every year, irrespective of performance, on top of any cost of living increase?
“Trusts now have a pressing need for the NHS to start discussing the different ways we could set pay, terms and conditions including looking at whether we should set pay nationally, regionally or trust by trust – exactly the same debate as the education service is now having.”
Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: “Patient care lies at the heart of this. This is why discussions have been about making a much stronger link between providing high quality patient care and annual pay progression – with a much stronger emphasis on behaviours referenced in the NHS Constitution around compassion, dignity and respect.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]