09 November 2007
The government is set to clash again with NHS unions over pay after recommending a below-inflation settlement for next year.
The Department of Health and NHS Employers, which represents local trusts, said the independent pay review bodies should agree on an increase not exceeding 2%.
But unions wanted a deal around the 4% mark to 'boost morale' after this year's staged pay award of 1.9%.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chair of the British Medical Association Council, said the profession was being 'constantly undermined' after winning better pay through new GP and consultant contracts. The BMA is recommending an increase of between 3.6% and 4.3%.
Meldrum said: 'The government is losing the opportunity to reap the benefits of the new contracts. It would be completely unacceptable if, yet again, the annual pay review was used to claw money back from well-deserved new contracts.'
Peter Carter, the Royal College of Nursing's general secretary, said: 'By suggesting that the pay review body should award a mere 2% this year, ministers have ignored the facts, disregarded the evidence and failed to learn the lessons of the last pay dispute. Nurses will not stomach another below-inflation pay deal.'
But the Department of Health, in its submission to the pay review bodies, said 'staff satisfaction is about much more than pay' and that much of the projected £1bn surplus for 2007/08 is needed to 'cope with unexpected cost pressures'.
It recommended a 1.5% rise for doctors and dentists and 2% for staff covered by the NHS Pay Review Body.
NHS Employers suggested an increase for all staff of up to 2%. Deputy director Alastair Henderson said: 'In terms of what the NHS can afford, anything more than this will put undue pressure on trusts.'
The final award will be decided by the NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
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