NHS pay

The Department of Health has submitted evidence to the NHS pay review body on regional pay. Although it supports the principles outlined by the Chancellor in his 2011 autumn statement, it also urges consideration around the wider issue of NHS reform, including the pace of change. The RCN responded to the DH submission by saying that: “It remains our belief that a move to local pay among NHS staff will lead to damaging competition between Trusts for staff, drive down pay in certain areas and risk lasting damage to staff morale and motivation. While we note the Department of Health supports a national pay bargaining framework in its evidence, the RCN will continue to urge the pay review body to reject outright any calls for the introduction of a market-facing remit for NHS pay.”

The Guardian