Three leading NHS unions have come together to call on health secretary Wes Streeting to scrap the “time-consuming” and “bureaucratic” pay review body process and instead negotiate with them directly.
Doing so would bring in a simpler and easier way of determining staff pay, while also supporting recruitment and retention, patient care, and work to cut waiting lists. The unions in question are:
- UNISON
- Unite
- Royal College of Nursing
Past mistakes
A joint letter to the health secretary warns that one million NHS staff across England will not receive their pay rise for next year on time if the government waits for the PRB to report. “Sticking with the out-of-date pay review body process risks repeating the mistakes of the past,” reads the letter.
“The pay review body process is outdated and belongs to a bygone age. It takes forever, is bureaucratic and is inefficient too. Scrapping this would save 10s of 1,000s of pounds and spare the NHS, the government and other health organisations the many hours it currently takes to compile, submit and present evidence.”
Agenda for Change
The RCN has also highlighted that talks to reform the Agenda for Change system are yet to commence, despite being agreed upon in the summer.
"Our members need action and clarity on their future now so we can rebuild the nursing profession and the NHS, and modernise the way care is delivered,” explained the organisation’s CEO, Professor Nicola Ranger.
“That is why we need to get round the table for meaningful discussions. We have taken this approach in the interests of nursing staff, the patients and communities we serve, and the NHS itself.”
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