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Consultant pay exceeds £110,000 | Consultant pay exceeds £110,000 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Pay for NHS consultants has risen by 16% in the last three years, with average salaries in excess of £110,000. | Pay for NHS consultants has risen by 16% in the last three years, with average salaries in excess of £110,000. |
Nurses' basic pay has risen to £26,100, a rise of 15%, while ambulance workers' basic pay rose by 12%. | Nurses' basic pay has risen to £26,100, a rise of 15%, while ambulance workers' basic pay rose by 12%. |
The figures do not include consultants' private work, nor anti-social hours and overtime pay which can push ambulance staff and nurses' pay to over £30,000. | The figures do not include consultants' private work, nor anti-social hours and overtime pay which can push ambulance staff and nurses' pay to over £30,000. |
Earlier this year, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the new consultant contract had not improved patient care. | Earlier this year, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the new consultant contract had not improved patient care. |
Under the deal, agreed in 2003, consultant salaries have risen by 27% - from average pay of £87,000 for their NHS work. The hours worked also fell, from 51.6 per week to 50.2. | Under the deal, agreed in 2003, consultant salaries have risen by 27% - from average pay of £87,000 for their NHS work. The hours worked also fell, from 51.6 per week to 50.2. |
In return, consultants agreed to sign up to set job plans brokered by NHS managers which were meant to herald a more patient-friendly service. | In return, consultants agreed to sign up to set job plans brokered by NHS managers which were meant to herald a more patient-friendly service. |
These plans were designed to enable consultants to spend a greater proportion of their time with patients and also run more clinics at times suitable to patients, such as evening sessions. | These plans were designed to enable consultants to spend a greater proportion of their time with patients and also run more clinics at times suitable to patients, such as evening sessions. |
But in April, the NAO said the deal had failed to deliver on both counts. | But in April, the NAO said the deal had failed to deliver on both counts. |
A spokesperson from the British Medical Association said consultants' pay should be seen in the context of what other trained professionals earn. | |
In addition, "many of them continue to work over and above their NHS contracted hours because they care about their patients' wellbeing." | |
Strike considered | Strike considered |
Nurses in England meanwhile are currently considering industrial action over the staging of a 2.5% pay increase this year. The government has said that offering 1.5% now and a further 1% in the autumn is what is affordable, but many want the payment in full now. | Nurses in England meanwhile are currently considering industrial action over the staging of a 2.5% pay increase this year. The government has said that offering 1.5% now and a further 1% in the autumn is what is affordable, but many want the payment in full now. |
Nurses in Scotland and Wales are receiving the amount in full, and unions say it would only cost a further £60m to give everyone the same amount. | Nurses in Scotland and Wales are receiving the amount in full, and unions say it would only cost a further £60m to give everyone the same amount. |
According to the NHS Information Centre, average total earnings now for a qualified nurse are £30,100 - some 14% more than in 2004. | According to the NHS Information Centre, average total earnings now for a qualified nurse are £30,100 - some 14% more than in 2004. |
This figure includes a basic salary of £26,100, and additional earnings resulting from overtime and location payments. | This figure includes a basic salary of £26,100, and additional earnings resulting from overtime and location payments. |
Pay resulting from anti-social hours means qualified ambulance staff pay has risen by nearly 40%, to £32,100. | Pay resulting from anti-social hours means qualified ambulance staff pay has risen by nearly 40%, to £32,100. |