Mark Drakeford, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
I wish to express my gratitude to the NHS Pay Review Body and to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body for their reports; I note their recommendations and observations.
The Welsh Government remains committed to the preservation of jobs within the Welsh NHS to enable the provision of high standards of patient care. Welsh Government pay policy reflects this aim while also ensuring that services are fit for purpose and sustainable.
In our evidence to the Pay Review bodies we were clear that the scale of the financial challenge, particular to Wales, would mean any award is unfunded and would place additional cost pressure on NHS Wales. This position has not changed and financial pressures are still a significant issue.
The Department of Health has announced its intention to make non-consolidated awards to selected staff in 2014-15 and 2015-16, having already negotiated revised terms and conditions in England.
In respect to the recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body, in Wales we will make an award based on the same quantum as the Department of Health – equivalent to the cost of implementing the Department of Health proposals in Wales. However, we may wish to distribute the award in a different way.
NHS Employers, trades unions and staff associations will be asked to undertake urgent discussions and make recommendations about how this sum can be distributed to maximise our original commitments to maintain high standards of patient care in the Welsh NHS.
In respect to the recommendations from the Doctors and Dentists Review Body:
- For GPs in Wales, we will accept the DDRB recommendations and maintain consistency with GPs in England;
- For dentists in Wales, we will increase the value of dental contracts by 1.47%;
- For non-consultant salaried doctors, we will make an award based on the same quantum as the Department of Health – equivalent to the cost of implementing the Department of Health proposals in Wales. However, we may wish to distribute the award in a different way. NHS Employers and the British Medical Association Wales will be asked to undertake urgent discussions and make recommendations about how this sum can be distributed to maximise our original commitments to maintain high standards of patient care in the Welsh NHS;
- For consultants, we will make an award based on the same quantum as the Department of Health – equivalent to the cost of implementing the Department of Health proposals in Wales. NHS Employers will provide a further invitation to BMA Wales to join it in negotiating the outstanding proposals on the consultant contract and this pay issue in a single discussion.