Doctors deserve pay rise but trusts should not be saddled with the extra costs

24 July 2018

 
Responding to the announcement on pay rises for NHS doctors, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery, said:

"We would be the first to agree that NHS staff, including doctors, deserve better pay.

"This is vital for recruitment and retention, to address severe workforce shortages.

We would be the first to agree that NHS staff, including doctors, deserve better pay.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive



"But trusts are already financially overstretched and we have always been clear that this increase must be fully funded.

"If – as seems almost inevitable – the additional costs of this increase are passed on to trusts it would increase their pay bill substantially.

"This comes on top of the recent disclosure that – despite government promises - the pay uplift for  nurses and other NHS staff on agenda for change contracts would not be fully funded.

"This means that trusts will have to find other ways of finding the money, with a real risk that that could impact on the quality of care.