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NHS chiefs' pay rises condemned as 'double standards' by nurses NHS chiefs' pay rises condemned as 'double standards' by nurses
(about 17 hours later)
Hospital bosses' pay has been rising far faster than that of frontline NHS staff during the service's unprecedented financial squeeze, prompting angry claims by nurses' leaders of double standards.Hospital bosses' pay has been rising far faster than that of frontline NHS staff during the service's unprecedented financial squeeze, prompting angry claims by nurses' leaders of double standards.
Senior NHS managers' salaries have risen by an average of 6.1% over the last two years – almost four times the average rate of 1.6% for nurses, midwives and health visitors, according to new figures.Senior NHS managers' salaries have risen by an average of 6.1% over the last two years – almost four times the average rate of 1.6% for nurses, midwives and health visitors, according to new figures.
Some hospital trust chief executives and other senior figures have received bonuses of at least £40,000 – more than a ward sister's annual salary – pay rises of up to £30,000 and benefits in kind, such as a leased car, worth £10,000, freedom of information requests show.Some hospital trust chief executives and other senior figures have received bonuses of at least £40,000 – more than a ward sister's annual salary – pay rises of up to £30,000 and benefits in kind, such as a leased car, worth £10,000, freedom of information requests show.
The disclosures have led the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which conducted the research, to condemn what it says are unfair and growing disparities on pay in England at a time when most NHS staff who look after patients have had pay freezes or tiny pay rises.The disclosures have led the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which conducted the research, to condemn what it says are unfair and growing disparities on pay in England at a time when most NHS staff who look after patients have had pay freezes or tiny pay rises.
They come as anger is growing among unions representing the NHS's 1.35 million-strong workforce at the decision by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to reject the NHS pay-review body's recommendation that all NHS staff should get a 1% pay rise this year. Many of the unions are considering undertaking a coordinated programme of industrial action in the autumn, ranging from an overtime ban to potential strike action, in protest.They come as anger is growing among unions representing the NHS's 1.35 million-strong workforce at the decision by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to reject the NHS pay-review body's recommendation that all NHS staff should get a 1% pay rise this year. Many of the unions are considering undertaking a coordinated programme of industrial action in the autumn, ranging from an overtime ban to potential strike action, in protest.
The RCN said: "People already on the highest salaries in the health service are seeing their rewards accelerating ahead of the earnings of the staff they lead." Its general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, described the findings as "yet another kick in the teeth for hardworking and loyal nursing staff".The RCN said: "People already on the highest salaries in the health service are seeing their rewards accelerating ahead of the earnings of the staff they lead." Its general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, described the findings as "yet another kick in the teeth for hardworking and loyal nursing staff".
NHS hospital trusts are able to decide without ministerial interference how much their senior staff should be paid but are expected to do so "with responsibility and sensitivity to the position of staff who are subject to national contracts and restraint over their pay".NHS hospital trusts are able to decide without ministerial interference how much their senior staff should be paid but are expected to do so "with responsibility and sensitivity to the position of staff who are subject to national contracts and restraint over their pay".
Dan Poulter, the health minister, recently insisted that most were doing that. But he said that the details supplied by hospitals, contained in a new RCN report, "fly in the face of this assertion".Dan Poulter, the health minister, recently insisted that most were doing that. But he said that the details supplied by hospitals, contained in a new RCN report, "fly in the face of this assertion".
For example, the chief executive of Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the city's John Radcliffe hospital, received a bonus of between £40,000 and £45,000, while one executive got one of £5,000-£10,000 and six others of between £10,000 and £15,000.For example, the chief executive of Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the city's John Radcliffe hospital, received a bonus of between £40,000 and £45,000, while one executive got one of £5,000-£10,000 and six others of between £10,000 and £15,000.
Similarly, the chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford general hospital and other hospitals, also got a £40,000-£45,000 bonus, while three executives got bonuses of £15,000-£20,000 and one of £20,000-£25,000. Similarly, the then chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford general hospital and other hospitals, also got a £40,000-£45,000 bonus, while three executives got bonuses of £15,000-£20,000 and one of £20,000-£25,000.
The chief executive at 10 other hospital trusts and deputy chief executive at one other each enjoyed pay hikes of between £15,000 and at least £30,000 during 2011-12 and 2012-13. For instance, the salary of the chief executive of York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust rose from £160,000-£165,000 to £190,000-£195,000.The chief executive at 10 other hospital trusts and deputy chief executive at one other each enjoyed pay hikes of between £15,000 and at least £30,000 during 2011-12 and 2012-13. For instance, the salary of the chief executive of York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust rose from £160,000-£165,000 to £190,000-£195,000.
"It's extremely worrying that the government believes that trusts are acting responsibly when it's clear many are failing to show the leadership they should on senior management pay," said Carter."It's extremely worrying that the government believes that trusts are acting responsibly when it's clear many are failing to show the leadership they should on senior management pay," said Carter.
"The government has maintained an iron grip on the pay and benefits of frontline staff whilst the senior managers' pay bill has gone seemingly unchecked. This is the worst kind of double standard and makes a mockery of their insistence that fairness has been at the heart of their decision-making on public-sector pay.""The government has maintained an iron grip on the pay and benefits of frontline staff whilst the senior managers' pay bill has gone seemingly unchecked. This is the worst kind of double standard and makes a mockery of their insistence that fairness has been at the heart of their decision-making on public-sector pay."
Jamie Reed, the shadow health minister, said: "Hard-working nurses and midwives will find this galling. David Cameron should have honoured his promise to give frontline staff a pay rise."Jamie Reed, the shadow health minister, said: "Hard-working nurses and midwives will find this galling. David Cameron should have honoured his promise to give frontline staff a pay rise."
Bosses have been awarded enhanced packages at a time when the service has been receiving the smallest budget increases in its history and struggling to deliver £20bn in efficiency savings between 2011 and 2015 – the so-called Nicholson Challenge.Bosses have been awarded enhanced packages at a time when the service has been receiving the smallest budget increases in its history and struggling to deliver £20bn in efficiency savings between 2011 and 2015 – the so-called Nicholson Challenge.
The NHS Confederation, which represents senior managers, declined to comment.The NHS Confederation, which represents senior managers, declined to comment.
The Department of Health (DH) said the RCN's findings were not reliable because they had included exit packages awarded to some of the 7,250 NHS managers who had lost their jobs since 2010 but not done the same with nurses. There are now 16,300 more clinical staff and 7,250 fewer managers in the NHS than when the coalition took power in May 2010, a DH spokesman said. He claimed that the government's radical overhaul of the NHS was saving £5bn, which was far more than the costs of the 7,250 redundancies.The Department of Health (DH) said the RCN's findings were not reliable because they had included exit packages awarded to some of the 7,250 NHS managers who had lost their jobs since 2010 but not done the same with nurses. There are now 16,300 more clinical staff and 7,250 fewer managers in the NHS than when the coalition took power in May 2010, a DH spokesman said. He claimed that the government's radical overhaul of the NHS was saving £5bn, which was far more than the costs of the 7,250 redundancies.
In a separate matter, Carter said that the NHS would be forced to rely on increasing numbers of agency and foreign nurses to bridge the gap caused by cuts to the number of student-nurse training places.In a separate matter, Carter said that the NHS would be forced to rely on increasing numbers of agency and foreign nurses to bridge the gap caused by cuts to the number of student-nurse training places.
Speaking from the RCN annual congress in Liverpool, Carter said: "The NHS, having cut the number of places for student nurses, is now not getting the through-put, they're now having to go off to all points of the compass.Speaking from the RCN annual congress in Liverpool, Carter said: "The NHS, having cut the number of places for student nurses, is now not getting the through-put, they're now having to go off to all points of the compass.
"As an example, three years ago, the NHS in London cut training places by 24%. Now the effect of that is beginning to come through.""As an example, three years ago, the NHS in London cut training places by 24%. Now the effect of that is beginning to come through."
• This article was amended on 16 June 2014 to clarify that a bonus was awarded to the former chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The current chief executive was appointed after the research was conducted.