DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 98/042
The Government today agreed pay rises for the majority of NHS staff - those covered by the independent Pay Review Bodies.
The Prime Minister announced in a Written Reply to a Parliamentary Question that the Government had accepted in full the pay increases recommended by the Doctors'' and Dentists'' Review Body (DDRB) and the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors and the Professions Allied to Medicine Review Body (NPRB).
The recommended pay increases will be introduced in two stages:
* Doctors and dentists will get a 4.2% increase - 2% from 1 April, rising to 4.2% from 1 December.
* There will be a 5.2% increase in the intended average net income for general practitioners - 2% from 1 April, rising to 5.2% from 1 December.
* The pay element of general dental practitioners'' fees will increase by 4.2% - 2% from 1 April, rising to 4.2% from 1 December.
* Pay scales for nurses, midwives, health visitors, and the professions allied to medicine will increase by 3.8% - 2% from 1 April, rising to 3.8% from 1 December.
Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson said today:
"We have accepted in full the pay rises recommended by the Review Bodies. These increases for NHS staff - as with other public sector staff - are being introduced in two stages to make them affordable within existing spending plans.
"The Government''s approach to pay is part of our wider economic strategy aimed at ensuring low inflation, rising living standards and high and stable levels of employment.
"The NHS also has to live within its means. So we have had to be firm but we have also been as fair as we can to all NHS staff. That means applying the same overall disciplines on pay to all staff in the NHS -- including managers. And I shall be making it clear to the Chairmen of Trusts and Health Authorities that I expect them to make that stick.
"This year - unlike recent years - nurses will get a proper national pay award rather than facing the lottery of local pay bargaining. This is the highest pay award to nurses in the last six years.
"We are determined to see that nurses, doctors and all other NHS staff get a fair deal.
"That is why our longer term objective is to see staff receive national pay matched with meaningful local flexibility.
"It is also why we are investing in the future of the health service, by placing the recruitment, development and retention of high quality staff at the top of the NHS agenda.
"This is why we accept the need to address staff concerns about issues such as career development and the routine use of short term contracts."
Mr Dobson said that the Government''s action plan for NHS staff included:
* A major drive on nurse recruitment and retention, including the provision of an extra 1300 training places this year and recently launched national recruitment campaign;
* Immediate action:
- to promote health at work through strategies to minimise accidents, avoid violence and address stress;
- to tackle racism;
- to crack down on assaults on staff;
- to develop flexible, family friendly employment practices.
* A requirement for NHS Trusts to ensure greater staff involvement in service developments and planning change. A Task Force will be set up shortly to recommend on best practice, drawing on experience from inside and outside the NHS;
* Publication later this year of a strategic plan for improving human resource management in the NHS.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. On 1 April 1998 hospital doctors'' rates of pay will be 3.75% higher than they were on 1 April 1997. On 1 December 1998 rates of pay will be 4.55% more than they were on 1 December 1997.
On 1 April 1998 GPs'' rates of pay will be 3.75% higher than they were on 1 April 1997. On 1 December 1998 rates of pay will be 5.55% more than they were on 1 December 1997.
On 1 April 1998 the pay element of dentists'' fees will effectively be 3.75% higher than they were on 1 April 1997. On 1 December 1998 they will be 4.55% higher than they were on 1 December 1997.
On 1 April 1998 nurses'' and PAMs'' rates of pay will be 3.3% higher than they were on 1 April 1997. On 1 December 1998 rates of pay will be earning 3.8% higher than they were on 1 December 1997.
2. The Government accepts in principle the NPRB''s recommendation on discretionary points for some nurses and PAMs and will be taking these forward in the context of wider discussions on the NHS pay system.
3. Staff numbers covered by the two Pay Review Bodies in England are as follows:
* 49,710 hospital medical staff (whole-time equivalents), including 17,630 consultants and 27,100 junior doctors;
* 1,390 hospital dental staff (whole-time equivalents);
* 335,330 nurses and midwives (whole-time equivalents) in the Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS);
* 29,110 general practitioners, including assistants and trainees;
* 16,340 general dental practitioners on health authority lists;
* 42,460 staff in the professions allied to medicine.
[ENDS]
