Agenda for Change
Pay
The new system offers a 3.225 per cent pay rise this year and next, plus at least 5.8 per cent to take into account the restructuring process. This year’s pay rise should, therefore, eventually be worth at least 5.925 per cent and next year’s 6.325 per cent.
The system has been designed to ensure that as many staff as possible move to bands that provide higher maximum pay. Most nurses should earn significantly more than the minimum 15.8 per cent promised between 2003 and 2005. E-grade nurses, for example, could pick up 6.5 per cent on top of the basic 10 per cent, and F-grade midwives could receive an extra 11.9 per cent.
Nevertheless, in any system with winners there are bound to be losers. It is anticipated that around 7.5 per cent of staff could be worse off – however, all will have their current salary protected for up to six years. There will also be a new minimum wage in the NHS of £11,135.
