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Doctors outraged at latest NHS pay restraint, BMA says | Doctors outraged at latest NHS pay restraint, BMA says |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Doctors feel a "deep sense of outrage" at the failure to grant them a 1% increase in basic pay, the head of the British Medical Association has said. | Doctors feel a "deep sense of outrage" at the failure to grant them a 1% increase in basic pay, the head of the British Medical Association has said. |
In a letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Dr Mark Porter urged the government to reconsider the decision. | In a letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Dr Mark Porter urged the government to reconsider the decision. |
Many NHS staff in England will get a 1% rise, but those receiving "progression-in-job" increases, "typically worth over 3%", will not get the 1% as well. | |
The government said a 1% across-the-board rise would cost jobs. | The government said a 1% across-the-board rise would cost jobs. |
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation is currently at 2%, and the NHS pay review body had recommended that all NHS staff should get a 1% pay rise - whether they were also entitled to progression pay increases or not. | The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation is currently at 2%, and the NHS pay review body had recommended that all NHS staff should get a 1% pay rise - whether they were also entitled to progression pay increases or not. |
'Misplaced' | 'Misplaced' |
In the letter, Dr Porter said it was "frustrating" that Mr Hunt had chosen to ignore that recommendation. | In the letter, Dr Porter said it was "frustrating" that Mr Hunt had chosen to ignore that recommendation. |
"Your deliberate conflation of pay progression and cost-of-living uplift is particularly misplaced," he wrote. | "Your deliberate conflation of pay progression and cost-of-living uplift is particularly misplaced," he wrote. |
"Leaving aside the fact that a 1% uplift would in no way keep pace with the increases in the cost of living, incremental pay progression is designed to address a very different set of issues. | "Leaving aside the fact that a 1% uplift would in no way keep pace with the increases in the cost of living, incremental pay progression is designed to address a very different set of issues. |
"Pay progression is required to recognise learning and development in a role. | "Pay progression is required to recognise learning and development in a role. |
"Doctors gain more experience and responsibility over time and incremental progression arrangements for consultants, in particular, is a measure to control costs, building in a series of extended periods before they reach the full rate for the job." | "Doctors gain more experience and responsibility over time and incremental progression arrangements for consultants, in particular, is a measure to control costs, building in a series of extended periods before they reach the full rate for the job." |
The Unite union said last week that the pay decision was "the straw that breaks the camel's back" and its members now wanted to consider industrial action. | The Unite union said last week that the pay decision was "the straw that breaks the camel's back" and its members now wanted to consider industrial action. |
Unison's national officer Christina McAnea said the government had shown "complete contempt" for NHS staff, who were "on average, 10% worse off than when the coalition came to power". | Unison's national officer Christina McAnea said the government had shown "complete contempt" for NHS staff, who were "on average, 10% worse off than when the coalition came to power". |
But a Department of Health spokesman said implementing the review body recommendation would cost £450m. | But a Department of Health spokesman said implementing the review body recommendation would cost £450m. |
"That's the equivalent of 14,000 new nurses, and would put at risk the safe, compassionate care that we are committed to. | "That's the equivalent of 14,000 new nurses, and would put at risk the safe, compassionate care that we are committed to. |
"The health secretary has made it clear that his door is open to agree alternative proposals on pay providing we can continue to protect the front line." | "The health secretary has made it clear that his door is open to agree alternative proposals on pay providing we can continue to protect the front line." |
The Scottish government has said it will adopt the NHS pay review body's recommendations in full, meaning that all NHS staff in Scotland will receive the 1% pay rise. | The Scottish government has said it will adopt the NHS pay review body's recommendations in full, meaning that all NHS staff in Scotland will receive the 1% pay rise. |
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