RCN response to the DH evidence to the Pay Review Body

Published: 12 April 2012

Commenting on the Department of Health’s submission to the NHS Pay Review Body, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“It remains our belief that a move to local pay among NHS staff will lead to damaging competition between Trusts for staff, drive down pay in certain areas and risk lasting damage to staff morale and motivation. The current system is tried and tested. It ensures that employers in any part of the country can recruit staff with the right skills and experience to give patients the care that they need.

“While we note the Department of Health supports a national pay bargaining framework in its evidence, the RCN will continue to urge the pay review body to reject outright any calls for the introduction of a market-facing remit for NHS pay. We fear that a move which could see two nurses doing the same job but with a wide disparity in their pay is likely to hit patients in those areas which do not pay appropriately.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.