The NHS Employers organisation has said the present national arrangements for pay and conditions are not affordable due to the cost pressures facing the NHS,.
However, it added restraining pay bill costs is essential to minimise potential job losses and protect patient services.
The NHS Employers organisation has outlined its concerns to the NHS Pay Review Body, which is considering the £250 uplift for Agenda for Change staff earning £21,000 or less.
It also claimed that despite the government’s two-year pay freeze across all staff, employers face an upward pressure on their pay bill costs of 2.4%. This is a combination of a 2% annual increase resulting from annual pay increments given to nurses, administrators and other non-medical staff under the national Agenda for Change pay arrangement, plus a further 0.4% increase which will arise as a result of the proposed £250 uplift.
Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, said: “Employers are very concerned about the cost of the pay bill. As the NHS Employers organisation, we are keen to continue discussions with trade unions on the NHS Staff Council about the scope for negotiated changes to the national pay agreements to make them more affordable and flexible.
“We also believe it is essential that local employers have meaningful discussions with local trade unions and staff about the workforce implications of the financial challenges for their organisations.”
For more articles on public sector pay