RCN comments on DH bonuses

Published: 21 December 2009

The Royal College of Nursing describes the high bonuses paid to Department of Health staff as 'disingenuous' at a time when frontline staff may face a cap in pay.

The comments come in response to the news that the Department of Health paid out 199 bonuses of up to £27,500 in the last year.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter says:

"We are taken aback to learn that such high bonuses have been paid to Department of Health staff. This comes at a time when frontline workers are being given the message that they might face a cap on pay in the not too distant future. This appears disingenuous and we need to be reassured that these bonuses were only paid where there was clear evidence that patient care had been improved.

"We have said that nurses will need to be realistic about pay rises in light of the current difficult economic crisis. Paying bonuses, the highest of which exceeds the annual starting salary of a newly qualified nurse, sends mixed messages to health care workers, which will impact on staff morale and ultimately patient care."

One Department of Health official received a £49,000 bonus on top of their salary.