Additional £25m pay boost for health and social care workers in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann has informed staff of an additional in-year pay award for 2021/22, which is further to the 3 per cent which has already been implemented.

 

The 3 per cent award was implemented last November following a recommendation from the NHS pay review body.

 

In a communication to staff, Mr Swann said he was able to announce the further payt award following talks with trade unions.

 

He said “While this additional funding is, in part, an acknowledgement of the particular challenges you have faced, I’m very aware that there could never be enough to truly repay you for the sacrifices of the last two years.

 

“I have tried to devise a scheme that best utilised the funding I have available and one which was deliberately slightly more generous to our lower paid workers.”

 

In a joint statement in response to the announcement, health and social care unions said that whilst they provided a “guarded welcome” to the additional monies, they remained “extremely disappointed” with the recommendation of 3 per cent.

 

The statement said “We stated clearly that members’ earnings for the year 2021-22 will not have kept pace with rising costs.  Health workers deserve better.

 

“Health trade unions recognise that this award covers all health workers and reinforced the need for continued discussion on the impact of the pandemic on our members and ongoing recruitment and retention issues linked to pay.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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