RCN responds to Government decision on Pay Review Body

Published: 03 July 2009

The Royal College of Nursing says it expects governments in the UK to ensure the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body are paid in full and citing the current financial climate as a reason for rejecting recommendations is not acceptable.

The comments come as the governments throughout the UK rejected a recommendation from the Pay Review Body for a national recruitment and retention premium for junior pharmacists.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter says the RCN supports the independent Pay Review Body process and adds:

"Nurses and health care assistants rely on the independence and integrity of the NHS Pay Review Body. It considers evidence on pay impartially, in the current economic climate and makes fair recommendations for pay awards for NHS staff. 

This report provides strong evidence for a recruitment and retention premium for junior pharmacists in order to maintain the numbers entering that profession. In rejecting their recommendation, citing the financial climate as a reason, the Government again challenges the independence of the Review Body. This must not be allowed to set a precedent."

Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham says the recruitment problem for junior pharmacists is not bad enough to accept the recommendations of the Pay Review Body.