News / Pay rise deferral ‘a disgrace’

Government plans to defer pay rises in 2014 for a year while agreement is reached on further pay reform have been labelled a ‘disgrace’ by Unison general secretary Dave Prentis.

In its submissions to the NHS pay review bodies, the Department of Health said pay rises should be tied to progress on contract negotiations, particularly pay progression. Changes should seek to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes by ensuring there is a better balance between pay, performance and productivity, rather than time served, it said. Reforms would support the aim to deliver seven-day care and prevent ill health.

Unions and employers would report on progress in their evidence to the review body next year, effectively deferring the award for a year. NHS Employers opened formal negotiations with the British Medical Association on consultant and junior doctor contracts in October and is holding informal talks with the BMA on redrawing GP contracts.

Mr Prentis described the move as ‘emotional blackmail’. ‘What an absolute disgrace for Jeremy Hunt to oppose the miserly 1% pay rise promised to more than a million health workers and to add insult to injury by threatening to scrap increments,’ he said. ‘What kind of message does it send to health workers about the value this government places on their work?’

The HFMA has published its latest briefing for GPs, Getting to grips with finance. The eighth in the series, it covers 10 questions governing body members should ask their chief finance officer. Download this briefing by clicking here.