NHS Staff side evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body

Published: 22 October 2012

NHS staff are struggling under the burden of increased workloads and stress, with a third very seriously considering leaving their job, a joint report warns today.

The NHS Staff Side Evidence to the Pay Review Body also states that staff are currently being hit with job losses, a two year pay freeze and budget cuts. Many are now working unpaid overtime to fill the gaps in service provision that Government cuts are causing.

NHS Staff Side want the Review Body to recommend raising NHS pay rates to a level that both protects their real value against inflation and begin to redress the cut in earnings that staff have suffered in the last two years. It also wants an additional pay rise for staff earning up to £21,000 in recognition of the additional pressures that inflation has placed on workers at the bottom end of the pay scale.

The trade unions state that while they are strong supporters of the independent review body system and national pay determination, both the Government’s pay policy and their declared support for some form of local pay poses a serious threat to the current system of pay determination in the NHS.

Chair of Staff Side, Christina McAnea, said: “The NHS workforce is committed to providing high quality patient care and contributing to improving service delivery and efficiency savings. It is time that the PRB recognised those efforts and the damage that the pay freeze is causing to staff morale.

“Not only does the Government’s policy of pay restraint risk damaging morale and motivation, it also encroaches on the independence of the pay review body itself.”

A joint Staff Side Survey of members, undertaken by IDS, found that a third of members have very seriously considered leaving their jobs, compared to just a quarter in 2007. Of those, stress and workload (75 percent) are given for considering leaving current employment.

Two thirds of the 34,000 members questioned stated that morale is worse than a year ago, compared to 55 percent in 2010. This drop in levels of morale is attributed to increased workplace stress, NHS restructuring, changes to pension entitlements and the falling value of take-home pay.  Just eight percent of respondents stating they would recommend their occupation as a profession in the NHS.

Christina McAnea added:

“This evidence shows the strains that Government cuts to the NHS are placing on the workforce and on delivering high quality patient care. And they have risen to that challenge treating more patients against the backdrop of swingeing cuts to staff and resources. We want to see the Pay Review Body make a recommendation that reflects the hard work and commitment of all NHS staff."