After speaking with local nurses and practitioners in the last few weeks, Sara Britcliffe MP has written to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care regarding the NHS pay settlement.
For this pay deal to be fair, the Hyndburn MP has set out that we need to include all those who care for us, including those who deliver NHS services but are not directly employed by the NHS itself.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Steve,
I hope you are well.
I am writing to you regarding several constituents working for social enterprises and charities – but contracted by the NHS to deliver primary and mental health care - who have been in touch with me regarding the NHS pay award and the backlog payment and bonus.
These are individuals from Hyndburn and Haslingden, my constituency, who have worked tirelessly for their community both during and since the pandemic, often under sustained pressure. The only difference, so far are there is one in practice, is that they are not directly employed by the NHS but by social enterprises and charities. From Safeguarding Nurses, Community Public Health Nurses, and Care Co-Ordinators, they are contracted to do the same job as those employed directly by the NHS.
That is why I am concerned about recent communications they have received from their employers that they will not be entitled to the backpay part of the deal referred to as bonus payment and non-consolidated payment. My concern is twofold:
- Such an approach risks creating a multi-tiered system for staff working in the NHS. Many of my constituents were covered by a TUPE transfer when they moved to their current employer due to changes in NHS procurement. It was not their choice and they reasonably believed their pay and conditions would be protected.
- At a time when the NHS workforce is facing continued pressures, we need dedicated and motivated staff to remain in position and doing outstanding work for our communities. Allowing a particular section of our workforce to be worse off and feel undervalued is not conducive to achieving the above.
I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss this further and share the concerns of my constituents.
Best wishes,
Sara Britcliffe
Member of Parliament for Hyndburn and Haslingden
