Faster pay rises for Band 8 and 9s under new framework
Band 8 and 9 NHS staff would see quicker pay growth under proposals to be considered by the NHS Staff Council.
The NHS Pay Review Body, which makes recommendations on Agenda for Change, said in its report for 2024-25, published last night: “It is clear that compression of the AfC pay structure over a number of years is a matter of concern to staff and their representatives…
“Those concerns are greatest with respect to Bands 1 to 3 and, in particular, with the step from Band 7 to Band 8a, given the associated change in overtime and unsocial hours allowances [which Bands 8 and 9 do not receive].”
It adds: “It is also clear that action needs to be taken to ensure there are sufficient incentives throughout the AfC pay structure to make sure the best talent in the service is motivated to apply for promotion.
“In particular, for a number of years, we have repeatedly heard evidence from parties that staff are disincentivised from taking promotion from Band 7 to Band 8a, where the pay uplift can be as little as 1.8 per cent, and staff also lose their additional unsocial hours payments and the ability to earn overtime.”
They also “wait five years for progression, where staff at most other bands are eligible for pay progression after two years”.
The PRB went on: “On this basis, we additionally recommend that an intermediate pay point is added at each of Bands 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 9 to which staff should progress after two years at the respective band.”
It follows several years of outcry from Band 8 and 9 staff over pay issues, primarily caused by government deciding to target pay rises at lower bands in recent years, meaning these senior AfC staff – often middle managers or senior clinicians with leadership roles – have had very low rises.
At present it is unclear how annual pay rises – agreed at 5.5 per cent for all AfC staff – will be funded, and when they will be paid.
The health and social care secretary Wes Streeting last night said he was “accepting… in principle” the “recommendation regarding the addition of intermediate pay points to bands 8a and above”, but was “asking the NHS Staff Council to ratify it before it is implemented”.
The NHS Staff Council is a committee of health unions and NHS Employers.
NHS Employers CEO Danny Mortimer said: “We note that there is further follow up required with the NHS Staff Council regarding [the recommendations on Bands 8 and 9 and reviewing the framework].
“We are working with [Department of Health and Social Care] and trade union colleagues to respond to the secretary of state’s statement. We will update further once those discussions have taken place.”
The PRB pointed to wider problems in the AfC framework and said recent “targeting of pay awards to the lower end…has created significant compression at Bands 1 to 3” which is “compounded” by lower unsocial hours pay at Band 3.
It said: “There was a lack of consensus about how structural issues should be tackled. It was noted by a number of parties that the AfC pay structure has now been in existence for 20 years, and there is an argument for more comprehensive rather than piecemeal reform.”
Ministers also appeared to accept this recommendation, saying last night: “We want to work with the NHS Staff Council on issues with the AfC pay structure so we will work with stakeholders on the third recommendation.”
Recent months have seen unions at many trusts bringing rebanding and back-pay claims on behalf of junior staff, generally healthcare assistants and emergency care assistants in ambulance services.
Several of the claims have been successful, while unions at other trusts are still holding strikes. The PRB does not refer to these issues, and it is unclear if the proposed review will consider them.