Immediate pay proposals are not the only issue facing NHS staff – the government has revealed future plans to cut payments for health workers who work unsocial hours.
The plans were revealed in the department of health’s evidence to the 2015 NHS Pay Review Body, which is due to report in July.
UNISON’s own evidence on seven-day working – the only remit the PRB has this year – says the union “is very concerned that the focus of this review is not on providing seven-day services around the needs of the patient, but rather the focus is on cuts to unsocial hours payment”.
A report by Keele University for UNISON formed part of the union’s submission to the PRB. It portrays an overworked, pressurised, understaffed and undervalued workforce that, despite these pressures, is extremely dedicated, hard-working and committed to patients.
With the NHS a key concern for voters in the run-up to the general election, UNISON head of health Christina McAnea warned: “Staff are already at breaking point.
“Not paying them fairly when they are working at night and over the weekends could be the final straw. Many staff have already left the NHS and others are considering it.
The department of health submitted its arguments for England only, but UNISON expects separate government evidence to be submitted concerning Cymru/Wales and Northern Ireland.
The department argued:
- that incremental progression is “unfair and unaffordable”;
- that current unsocial hours payments “do not reflect modern employment practice”.
It suggests options for changing unsocial hours payments, including:
- changing the times defined as “unsocial”;
- paying Saturdays at plain time;
- lowering the rates for Sunday and bank holidays.
UNISON evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body 2015-16 on seven-day services
Keele University research paper: Under pressure and ‘the whole umbrella’s going to have to grow’
