Written Statement by Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for
Health and Social Services
This Written Statement was revised on 30 July 2020, a letter
regarding the revision was issued from the Minister for Health
and Social Services to all Members of the Senedd and can be found
below.
I am responding to the outcomes of the 34th NHS Pay review body
(NHSPRB) and 49th Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB). I am
grateful to the Chair and members of the NHSPRB and DDRB for
their report, and I welcome their robust independent
recommendations and observations. I know too that their advice is
greatly valued by NHS management, trade unions and staff
representatives alike.
I am pleased to announce today that I have been able to accept
the recommendations of the both the NHS PRB and DDRB in full.
This includes a 3% increase for staff on Agenda for Change terms
and conditions which includes employed nurses, cleaners, porters
and health care support workers.
An increase of 3% will also apply to all groups of employed
doctors and dentists; this includes consultants, doctors in
training, pre 2021 specialty and associate specialist (SAS)
doctor contracts, salaried GPs and dentists.
The recommended 3% uplift in pay for contracted GPs and dentists
is subject to overall contract changes for General Medical and
General Dental Services. My officials will be negotiating with
the representative bodies to deliver changes in line with the
Government’s agenda to improve access to services and a clear
emphasis on a preventative health agenda.
After a tremendously difficult 16 months for our incredibly hard
working staff, this pay rise recognises their dedication and
commitment and their absolutely vital contribution to our
response throughout the course of this pandemic, whilst also
taking into account affordability and the prioritising of patient
care.
This payment is the annual pay uplift for NHS staff for 2021/22
and is in addition to the NHS and Social Care bonus payment which
was announced by the previous Minister for Health and Social
Services in March 2021. That one off payment of £735 was to
acknowledge the phenomenal commitment and compassionate care
provided by our health and social care workforce to the people of
Wales when we have been at our most vulnerable.
For our lowest paid staff, this means we remain in line with the
living wage foundation recommendation of £9.50 an hour which we
implemented from April 2021, with our starting salary being
£18,576 pa (£9.50 per hour). This demonstrates our commitment to
ensuring that NHS Wales remains a Living Wage employer.
As yet the UK Treasury has provided no information if additional
funding will be made available to help cover the cost of any
recommended uplift above the 1% cap previously announced, but we
will be pressing them to give us additional funding to cover
this.
The delivery of excellent care is our top priority, and this is
why we are continuing to make positive progress in supporting the
NHS workforce to manage and boost their health and wellbeing,
recognising that fair pay is an important factor in both. That is
why I am also announcing today that a prototype Workforce
Wellbeing Conversation Framework Tool has been developed in
social partnership and will be launched later this month for use
across health and social care settings in Wales.
I truly value and admire the hard work and dedication of our
health and social care and I recognise the acute demands of the
past 16 months. As we move toward a busy recovery period,
balanced alongside the very real need for our workforce to take
proper time to rest and recuperate, it is incredibly important
that we are pro-actively talking openly and honestly with each
other about our own and each other’s’ individual wellbeing needs.
This framework tool will encourage and help managers and staff to
navigate these conversations and offer an opportunity to provide
sign-posting to additional support available where appropriate.
This tool is intended to be the first of its kind so feedback
from those who use the tool will inform future developments and
ensure that we are providing something useful and practical
whilst also allowing Welsh Government and employers to understand
how many conversations are taking place.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep
members informed. Should members wish me to make a further
statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns
I would be happy to do so.
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