NHS staff deserve at least a 10% pay rise to deal with the “real problems” of the cost-of-living crisis, hospital directors say.
In their submission to the Independent Pay Review Body (PRB) this year, NHS providers who represent trusts called for a 5 percent increase from 2023-24, but one in five (19 percent) senior health experts said, that the remuneration of employees will increase if comes from “10 percent or more”. More than one in three (35%) believes that next year’s salary should be between 6 and 9%.
This year’s bid marks the first time that trusted leaders receive more than 5 percent of salary. Some 14 health workers unions have announced they will refuse to provide evidence to the NHS Pay Review Board for the next round of wages as long as the current wage dispute remains unresolved.
Saffron Corderi, acting director of NHS Providers, called the 5 percent figure “the starting point” for wage negotiations. “Most respondents support at least 5 percent. This is a prerequisite, and a significant number support significantly more,” she said on Wednesday.
“Many said that it should be more than 10 percent. So it’s fair to say that 5 percent is the starting point for this conversation, not the end. And it’s absolutely critical that our members that we spoke to – shop floor managers, HR directors, people in pay and benefits – also wanted to see a progressive rule, and by that we mean one that serves the people at the bottom. end benefits tariff benefits where the cost of living runs into real problems.
“If we were to poll our members now, I would say the level would be higher and I will personally testify before the Pay Review Board and I am sure I will reflect that point of view. Such a mixed picture.”
NHS workers received an average 4.5% pay rise last year, and trusts were asked to supplement pay increases from existing budgets after the government refused to fund more than 3%. Hospitals fear they will face the same problem again this year after the Pay Review Board made recommendations to the government in the spring.
NHS providers said in a panel statement: “The 2022-23 award was not fully funded by the government, impacting NHS and patient finances as NHS England had to make up the deficit in the national NHS budget. This means that funds for longer-term transformation projects have been cut.
“For example, the long-term costs of transformation, such as funds distributed through the Service Development Fund, are being reduced. National prevention and digital programs run the risk of being implemented slower than long-term plans, limiting the ability to continually increase efficiency and improve patient care in the long term.
“Because wages are a fixed cost, NHS England will have to make up for this lack of wage funding year after year, unless the government commits itself to fully fund the wage supplements it chooses to provide to NHS staff.”
On Monday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay met with health workers unions to negotiate to prevent further strikes this month.
Asked about pay talks to break the current stalemate, Mr Barclay said he “doesn’t think it’s right” to go back “back” to April when it comes to reviewing this year’s wage proposal for NHS workers . It comes amid reports that it is considering postponing the 2023-2024 pay raise to this month to improve the year-to-date settlement offer.
Mr. Barclay said: “The purpose of Monday’s meeting was to review next year’s Pay Review Board and the evidence that comes in. annual financial statements.
In his letter of commitment to the PRB Chairman regarding the 2023-2024 payment round, Mr Barclay said that “the NHS budget is already set” until 2024-25. He stated that the wage distribution for 2023-24 should be “carefully balanced” and acknowledged the importance of public sector workers “by benefiting the taxpayer, taking into account private sector wage levels, the country’s debt will not and will not rise further “. . Be careful not to raise prices in the future.”
NHS providers have said funding levels set for the NHS have been increased by a further £3.3bn in 2023-24 and 2024-25 to cover additional wages and inflationary pressures.
Physician leaders are due to meet with the health minister on Thursday, after the first pay meeting was postponed, so he could be interviewed by the media. Mr Barclay said he would speak with unions on Wednesday to discuss labor relations, but the British Medical Association (BMA) said the health minister had canceled the talks.
Some 45,000 BMA members voted on Monday in favor of the prospect of a strike, the results of which were summed up by the end of February. The BMA has told the government that junior doctors will begin their action in March with a 72-hour “total strike” if a yes vote is taken.
Trainee doctors will not provide emergency care during the strike, and trusts should arrange for emergency care to ensure patient safety, the BMA said.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.