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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/nov/28/jeremy-hunt-nhs-pay-changes-junior-doctors-row-unions
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| Hunt 'risking repeat of junior doctors row' with plan to change NHS pay | Hunt 'risking repeat of junior doctors row' with plan to change NHS pay |
| (11 days later) | |
| The government has triggered a row with NHS staff by unveiling plans to overhaul their pay, including how much they receive for working antisocial shifts. | The government has triggered a row with NHS staff by unveiling plans to overhaul their pay, including how much they receive for working antisocial shifts. |
| Health unions have warned Jeremy Hunt that he is risking a repeat of the acrimonious junior doctors’ dispute by seeking to reduce the extra amounts staff get for weekend and overnight working. | Health unions have warned Jeremy Hunt that he is risking a repeat of the acrimonious junior doctors’ dispute by seeking to reduce the extra amounts staff get for weekend and overnight working. |
| The health secretary has also aroused anger by making it clear that he wants to change increments – extra cash staff receive that helps increase their take-home pay. | The health secretary has also aroused anger by making it clear that he wants to change increments – extra cash staff receive that helps increase their take-home pay. |
| Unions voiced their opposition after Hunt disclosed his intentions in an interview with the Health Service Journal, saying he wanted to change the way more than 1 million NHS personnel in England are paid by introducing a “more professional pay structure”. | Unions voiced their opposition after Hunt disclosed his intentions in an interview with the Health Service Journal, saying he wanted to change the way more than 1 million NHS personnel in England are paid by introducing a “more professional pay structure”. |
| Staff affected by any shake-up include nurses, midwives, radiographers, therapists and dozens of other types of health professionals whose pay is set under a system called agenda for change. | Staff affected by any shake-up include nurses, midwives, radiographers, therapists and dozens of other types of health professionals whose pay is set under a system called agenda for change. |
| The chancellor, Philip Hammond, said in the budget last week that the government would provide money to fund a pay rise next year above the 1% planned, but only in return for productivity improvements. | The chancellor, Philip Hammond, said in the budget last week that the government would provide money to fund a pay rise next year above the 1% planned, but only in return for productivity improvements. |
| Hunt prompted particular suspicion by telling the journal the contract imposed on England’s 55,000 junior doctors in 2016 after a bitter year-long dispute, which prompted eight walkouts by trainee medics, was “quite sensible”. He suggested it could be a basis for the revised contract he wants to see, with those who work more regularly at weekends receiving higher pay. | Hunt prompted particular suspicion by telling the journal the contract imposed on England’s 55,000 junior doctors in 2016 after a bitter year-long dispute, which prompted eight walkouts by trainee medics, was “quite sensible”. He suggested it could be a basis for the revised contract he wants to see, with those who work more regularly at weekends receiving higher pay. |
| “Across the public sector we have been wanting to move towards more professional pay structures. I think the biggest area that we have wanted to reform for a long time is the system of increments – in particular, payments that simply relate to time served rather than any measurable increase in professional abilities,” he said. | “Across the public sector we have been wanting to move towards more professional pay structures. I think the biggest area that we have wanted to reform for a long time is the system of increments – in particular, payments that simply relate to time served rather than any measurable increase in professional abilities,” he said. |
| Ministers do not want to reduce the overall NHS pay bill, he insisted. “This isn’t a money-saving thing but about moving to modern professional pay structures,” Hunt said. | Ministers do not want to reduce the overall NHS pay bill, he insisted. “This isn’t a money-saving thing but about moving to modern professional pay structures,” Hunt said. |
| But the Royal College of Nursing, which represents more than 300,000 nurses, accused him of being “ill-briefed on the increments system”. | But the Royal College of Nursing, which represents more than 300,000 nurses, accused him of being “ill-briefed on the increments system”. |
| “They are not automatic and recognise career progression, not simply time in a post,” a spokesperson said. The union welcomed the intention of maintaining antisocial hours payments, but warned Hunt: “We will not support any reduction in terms and conditions.” | “They are not automatic and recognise career progression, not simply time in a post,” a spokesperson said. The union welcomed the intention of maintaining antisocial hours payments, but warned Hunt: “We will not support any reduction in terms and conditions.” |
| Sara Gorton, the head of health at the Unison union, said: “If the government is expecting staff to pay for their own wage rise, it’ll be a very short set of talks indeed.” | Sara Gorton, the head of health at the Unison union, said: “If the government is expecting staff to pay for their own wage rise, it’ll be a very short set of talks indeed.” |
| Jon Skewes, a senior official at the Royal College of Midwives, said Hunt had ignored advice unions gave him in a recent initial round of discussions about NHS pay “to explore more and talk less”. | Jon Skewes, a senior official at the Royal College of Midwives, said Hunt had ignored advice unions gave him in a recent initial round of discussions about NHS pay “to explore more and talk less”. |
| “His intervention has not helped the prospect of a deal on pay in the NHS. Last week’s budget was helpful on funding, but the secretary of state, by citing the junior doctors’ dispute, has blundered,” he said. | “His intervention has not helped the prospect of a deal on pay in the NHS. Last week’s budget was helpful on funding, but the secretary of state, by citing the junior doctors’ dispute, has blundered,” he said. |
| “[The RCM] will not be prepared to reduce the fair compensation that midwives and other staff in the NHS receive for providing a service that is there every day, every night, every weekend, every bank holiday, every Christmas holiday.” | “[The RCM] will not be prepared to reduce the fair compensation that midwives and other staff in the NHS receive for providing a service that is there every day, every night, every weekend, every bank holiday, every Christmas holiday.” |
| Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “Alarm bells will be ringing loudly following this admission from Jeremy Hunt that he’s seeking to apply the junior doctors’ dispute as a template for pay talks across the NHS. | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “Alarm bells will be ringing loudly following this admission from Jeremy Hunt that he’s seeking to apply the junior doctors’ dispute as a template for pay talks across the NHS. |
| “His confrontational approach to that contract led to the first junior doctor strike ever and created a huge amount of worry and uncertainty for patients while the dispute was resolved.” | “His confrontational approach to that contract led to the first junior doctor strike ever and created a huge amount of worry and uncertainty for patients while the dispute was resolved.” |
| Health unions want a pay rise of 3.9% next year, plus a further £800 to help make up for the erosion of their income over the past seven years of pay freezes and the 1% cap. | Health unions want a pay rise of 3.9% next year, plus a further £800 to help make up for the erosion of their income over the past seven years of pay freezes and the 1% cap. |
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