Pay freeze to hit Jersey’s nursing staff

Public sector staff in Jersey are facing a two-year pay freeze as an RCN survey has shown that 60 per cent of members working on the island are seriously considering leaving nursing.

Nurses and midwives’ staff side unions had asked for an increase in line with the retail price index plus one per cent for the next three years.
In its submission, staff side highlighted pressures on workload, issues with recruitment and low morale as reasons for the increase.

The submission also said staff on the island are between five and 17 per cent worse off than comparators in the UK.

Patricia Marquis, South East Regional Director, said the pay freeze was a “bitter blow” for members and will not help morale. She feels a promised review from the Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) is stalling for time.

She said: “The RCN had been, and remains very much, involved in the negotiations for the 2012 pay review although it seems like this has been in vain. We are extremely disappointed to learn of the two year pay freeze that will affect all public sector workers on the island.

“Coupled with the pay freeze is an evaluation of all job roles including pay grade/structure for health staff. Using pay to evaluate the roles is a disaccredited system for health staff as it doesn’t adequately recognise the skills that nursing staff have and we will be fighting this. All we are asking for is a fair outcome for nursing staff on the island which will hopefully lead to a better deal for nursing staff.”

The RCN survey highlighted that 43 per cent of the 141 respondents would consider leaving the island.

The most common reason given for considering leaving is feeling undervalued due to levels of pay or the cost of living. 

Just one in 10 would look for a new job within their existing organisation and a third would seek a new job on Jersey either for a different health organisation or outside the health service. The results demonstrate the strength of feeling and dissatisfaction with working both in health care and working on Jersey.

The survey also highlights the extent of overtime working by nursing staff. Well over half work overtime on at least one shift a week, with 35 per cent doing it several times a week or every shift.

Among those working overtime, two-thirds work regularly work more than two extra hours a week and two-fifths work more than six extra hours a week.

Patricia said: “It is always sad when we hear stories of nursing staff who are disillusioned with their job and are considering leaving the profession. For nursing staff on Jersey to say they are ‘seriously considering’ leaving the island should make those at the HSSD sit up and take notice as it is vitally important that Jersey retains nursing staff with the relevant skills and experience.”

The survey results came as a two-year pay freeze for the island’s health care staff was announced.