Latest news with #NHSAgendaforChange
The Herald Scotland
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Taking difficult decisions on money for healthcare
Last year Agenda for Change trade unions received a 5.5% pay uplift and have recently, unanimously accepted, a two year pay deal of 4.25% in 2025/26 and 3.75% in 2026/27. This pay agreement will benefit almost 170,000 NHS Agenda for Change staff – including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, and porters. This will see a Band 5 nurse at the top of their grade getting a £1,689 pay uplift in 2025/26. I was pleased to reach an agreement with consultants in 2024/25 on a 10.5% uplift which equated to a significant investment of £124.9 million in their pay and reward package. This ensured consultant pay remains competitive with other UK nations. Neil Gray said difficult choices had to be made (Image: PA) As we look to this year's pay settlement, it has been absolutely crucial to ensure that any pay increase is fair, affordable and equitable. I have carefully considered the recommendation of a 4% increase from the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Body (DDRB), which advises on these matters at a UK level. I feel this represents a fair and equitable offer and we are implementing the recommendations immediately to ensure uplifts and backpay are received in July salaries. We have had to make difficult decisions to redirect funding from within the health portfolio. Redirecting funding from patient care is never an easy decision, but I have done so to respect the independent DDRB process and set the Scottish Government on a financially sustainable path. I have been clear I am unable to go beyond the DDRB recommendations. In the coming weeks we look to hold discussions with the BMA to explore non-pay elements which could be included in this year's deal. With average CPI inflation forecast to run at 2% over the course of the 2025/26 financial year, a 4% increase means they will receive an above inflation increase which will see consultants raises of between £4,286 and £5,695, meaning at the top of their scale, a consultant will earn a basic pay of £148,064. For specialty doctors, this increase would see their wage rise by between £2,468 and £3,845, with those at the top of their grade earning a basic salary of nearly £100,000. As I travel up and down the country and meet staff working in our hospitals and health centres, I see first-hand the outstanding work staff in our health service are undertaking and I am extremely grateful for their contribution. READ MORE: Neil Gray faces fresh questions over 'limogate' row 'We must tackle racist violence' - Swinney after Police Scotland officers sent to NI However, I also hear about the demands staff are dealing with and impact this can have on morale and wellbeing. We know that teams are facing pressure right across the NHS – from porters to consultants - and I want staff to know; we hear your concerns and we are determined to take action and ensure we are directing resources to the right places to relieve pressure on the system. In recent weeks we announced the allocation of £106 million to tackle waiting times. This investment will help clear the longest waits and I hope demonstrate to staff that we are taking measures to clear the backlog of treatment facing teams currently. The investment is part of the £200 million announced as part of the Programme for Government to build capacity, tackle delayed discharge and improve patient flow through hospitals. We are determined to do more on recruitment - a new project called the Future Medical Workforce will seek to explore issues of workforce planning. This will allow us to hear directly from doctors in order to make improvements to the medical education pipeline, ensuring we can continue to deliver the medical workforce Scotland needs. I have continued to invest significantly in training as we want to have the best qualified people working in our NHS. There are a record high number of Medical & Dental Consultants in Scotland, including Directors. Under this government, the number of Consultants has increased by 70% and our NHS workforce has seen 12 consecutive years of growth. I recognise the challenges that the Health Service faces and I am determined to do more, but I strongly believe that this must be done in a way that treats all staff with fairness and equity. Neil Gray is the Health Secretary and MSP for Airdrie & Shotts
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire NHS staff to strike for nine more days in pay row
A number of specialist NHS staff at two Gloucestershire hospitals will walk out for nine more days amid a dispute over their pay and phlebotomists - staff who take blood samples - from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital took industrial action from Monday to Wednesday this Unison union says the NHS trust that runs both hospitals has "repeatedly missed deadlines to correct the workers' pay". The staff are set to continue their strike from Monday to Thursday next week, and from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April. The trust said no blood will be taken from patients during the industrial action and has apologised to patients. Dawny Elliott, who works at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, said she and other phlebotomists played "a vital role" in the NHS."Every diagnosis starts with a phlebotomist. Yet we're feeling very overworked, undervalued, and underpaid," she said."My colleagues and I are passionate about our jobs, but many of us are struggling to make ends meet."Some are even taking on second jobs just to get by." A Unison spokesperson said: "The trust has ignored a fair job evaluation process and attempted to get out of its obligations to assess the phlebotomists' skills and responsibilities," "Despite clear evidence that these health workers should be on band three of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, the trust managers continue to pay them at the lower band two grade, meaning they are losing out on around £1 an hour."Chris Roche, south west regional organiser at Unison, said managers had been given "more than a year to put things right"."Now, faced with yet another failure by their employer, phlebotomists have no choice but to escalate their action," Mr Roche said. 'Contingency plans in place' Kevin McNamara, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust "recognises and appreciates the valuable contribution" phlebotomists make."We will continue to work closely in partnership with our local union representatives and phlebotomists on resolving these issues," he added."Contingency plans are in place and we are advising patients who have an appointment at either Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH) or Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) during periods of industrial action to attend as normal unless they hear from us directly to advise otherwise. "However, there will be no phlebotomy service/blood taken from patients during industrial action."We would like to apologise for any inconvenience in advance."
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS counsellors threaten to strike over pay
NHS mental health workers are voting on if they should go on strike in a row about Unison union claims 20 of its members are being paid trainee rates, despite being fully said the counsellors, who work for the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, were owed thousands of and Waveney Mind, which employs the counsellors, said hourly rates were set following an evaluation by an independent external body. A Unison vote on whether to take industrial action closes on 17 union's eastern regional organiser, Cameron Matthews, said: "These counsellors provide essential support to people going through serious mental health issues across Norfolk and Suffolk."But Mind has been taking advantage of their commitment to patients, paying them thousands of pounds a year less than they deserve."After months of talks, the staff have understandably had enough and decided the only way to change Mind's stance is to vote for industrial action." Unison said the row began last year when the counsellors, who were on band six of the NHS Agenda for Change salary scale, asked to go up a pay claimed "no progress" was made during and Waveney Mind insisted it wanted to work collaboratively with all parties involved to find a "productive and appropriate solution".A spokesperson said: "We began to deliver the NHS Talking Therapies service on 1 September 2024."We have had the role in question evaluated by an independent external body, which advised us that the counsellors' pay grade is correct."We are in ongoing talks with UNISON, ACAS and staff representatives and are committed to resolving this situation through open and honest dialogue with all parties."Norfolk and Waveney Mind said it would meet on 14 March to discuss the ongoing situation. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Norfolk or BBC Suffolk.
