NHS pay increase 2022

[TabithaTiger]

www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-staff-to-receive-pay-rise

Has anyone got any clarity on what this means for staff?

The media are reporting a 4.5% rise, with the lowest paid getting up to 9.3%.

I'm hearing elsewhere that it's not quite so straightforward as that and that the increase tapers as it goes up the bands, with those at band 9 getting 1.3%

@Katypp seeks out nhs threads to be very vocal with her view of nurses and how awful the nhs is.

You must only work a handful of hours band 5
starts at 25k

@rwalker yes I am part time due to circumstances I can't work more hours.

If you are bottom of 8a it's actually a real terms pay cut.

£47121 + £1400 = £48521

Effectively 2.97% increase, but the pension tier to go from 9.3% contribution to 12.5% contribution is £47846. That is a 3.2% increase in pension contributions.

So this will push 8a staff into the next pension tier effectively cost 0.23%

Bit of a kick in the teeth... oh and it's backdated to April

I think this will also narrow the already small difference between the top of Band 7 and the bottom of Band 8a. Then no increment for 5 years. That's actually really bad.

I started 6 years ago as a newly qualified nurse on less than 22K, as the starting salary has only recently increased. I've worked mainly in NHS hospitals in that time although temporarily left to work in a nursing home which was horrendous (but much better paid). I'm now on around 28K which considering my experience and the work I do I don't think is anywhere near enough. I'm considered the most senior band 5 on my ward and I am good at my job. I'm looking at different jobs atm although I love my ward. Such high tax/ NI rates and paying out £250 a month for my pension, which by the time I retire I may not be able to enjoy much of, means after paying my sky high rent, bills etc I have hardly anything left. Luckily family look after my toddler when I'm working as I simply couldn't afford nursery. Anyone who thinks that's overpaid is deluded. And @Katypp yes we often don't get a break, meaning we're walking around for 12.5 hours in an overheated elderly ward maybe having one wee which is so dark as we're dehydrated starving hungry while we patiently assist someone with dementia to eat their meal and drink to keep them hydrated. And assisting people to the toilet means we're running behind on obs, meds so get them done before handover but then we need to write our notes as a legal obligation. An hour or more later we can finally clock out, getting no thanks. Your attitude to nurses in general is disgusting.

That's awful.

@Katypp you make me giggle 🤭 because you are so strange…

I have worked for nhs for years and really hard to reach Band 8a. Whitest I support lower bands receiving pay increase I think it’s very very very unfair for senior staff to receive 2.8% or less on higher bandings. This will further reduce senior experienced staff retention. A top of band 7 clinician will receive about £20 less than band 8a who has a shed load more responsibility!!! It’s just not right. Many 8as will look for private work elsewhere or move down to band 7 . Stupid shortsighted

Totally agree. I am gonna look for private role as 8a is not worth the extra £20 a month compared to top of band 7! I worked very hard for band 8a. Very disappointed

Yes it’s absolutely rubbish for 8 a staff. Surprised unions are not bringing this up. They don’t seem to have a clue that now your effectively better off as a band 7 (top of) than 8a!!! Just a joke . All that extra responsibility for an extra £20. The nhs will see people leaving in droves at a senior level

Totally agree. Most 8as have worked socks off to get where they are in nhs. Absolutely kick in the teeth.

As an 8 I absolutely support the lower bands getting a pay rise of equal monetary value even if the percentage rises are different. I agree with PPs regarding the blurring of the bands and think this will make it difficult to recruit to some clinical posts like matrons (why would you want the responsibility?) and also make it less attractive for management staff to climb the ladder.

There are a number of staff on Band 8 including many healthcare scientists, advanced therapists, matrons, ACPs, it's not just managers.

The HSJ has a lot of comments around Managers on afc 8 and 9 effectively being marked as the least valued of all staff groups. What really grinds my gears is that very senior managers are getting a pay rise of 3.5% which has been deemed 'appropriate'. So the head of IT and the Estates director will see a much bigger rise than all other staff.

I've worked fucking hard over the last two and a half years and have taken on increasing hours and responsibilities. There is no overtime framework for b8 and higher and we are just expected to suck it up. I get paid £20 for an on call shift. Dealing with major decisions that keep the whole hospital as safe as possible.
My gas and electricity have gone up too, like everyone else. My commute to work costs £200 more than it did previously due to increases in fuel prices. My 3 kids still need dinner and food bills have gone up.

Despite the world of shit it will give me, I support healthcare workers striking for a better deal.

Exactly what I’m planning to do. I have my eye on a very appealing Band 7. Will get top of scale which is neither here nor there versus bottom 8A. No budget or line management responsibilities, mostly wfh plus a 9 day fortnight. What’s not to like?

We've been discussing this at work today. It's actually a pay cut for 8a's as the pay increase will tip them into the 12.5% pension bracket. My 8a is totally disillusioned, she worked her socks off to get a promotion from band 7, put in unpaid hours throughout Covid and has a huge amount of responsibility. I imagine she'll be looking around now for a band 7 role.

Contrary to what the general public thinks, the NHS needs to look after their operational middle managers ie the 8a 8b and 8c grades. Things will quickly fall apart without them, or with unsuitable / inexperienced staff promoted too quickly to fill the gaps.

Sick of people slagging off managers when they hold great responsibility and are critical to the functioning of our health service.

The £20 difference in take home pay between a Band 7 and 8a is a disincentive and will be keenly felt by individuals first and then as they leave or demote themselves, by the system.

BIG mistake

That's exactly what happens to Band 5s after two years' experience. Pay actually goes down due to the increased pension contributions!

Small crumb of comfort - the government is proposing to change the pension tiers in line with the pay deal to prevent them bumping people into a higher contribution rate - details here www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-pension-scheme-proposed-uplifts-to-the-member-contribution-tier-thresholds/nhs-pension-scheme-proposed-uplifts-to-the-member-contribution-tier-thresholds-from-1-october-2022

@Reallybadidea common sense prevails! Glad to hear this

I meant I’m struggling with the increased cost of living. Hence supporting those in the NHS on very little pay. You cut your cloth don’t you - I don’t have spare cash so yes obviously I’d prefer if my pay kept up with my outgoings.
I’m not a nurse, I’m other specialist clinician. Luckily I love my job.

For those at bottom of 8a, as it’s a pay cut and it’s backdated to April, does it mean that a lump sum pay cut will come out in the September pay before the new pension rates kick in in October?

I am top Band 7 and am going from 30 hours to full time next month due to the cost of living rise. I was proper shafted last year when the pay rise was awarded as it pushed me from 9.5% to 12.5% as we were pensioned based on a whole time equivalent wage - it made me worse off. I am really glad to see the change in pension.

Also interesting to hear about others experiences towards 7 vrs 8, I am a Nurse Practitioner and work alongside 8a ACPs. There is no distinction in role in my community trust, we all see exactly the same complex patients. I feel this highly unfair as we have not got the skill set an 8a does as they have an masters.

This! My DH is an 8b psychologist. He works for a big inner city service and the the majority of his team at 8a/b level have left over the past few years. Job that stressful one person had a stroke another lost a baby! The pressure they are under is horrific.

He's always wanted to stay for his pension but this pay 'increase' is just another kick in the teeth. I am going through a job change myself, but once I'm settled he will start planning a move to reduce hours and then get out. If he stays I'm worried he'll have a heart attack tbh.

Newish band 8a here. Totally regret all my hard work to better myself … wish I would’ve stayed in my band 6 job as I’d be top of the band now with so much less responsibility and 4% uplift.

I have been considering leaving for a new career for a while so going to get my finances in order and do it! NHS isn’t worth it anymore .

If all bands were awarded the same % increase the gap between the highest paid and lowest paid would get wider and wider with the increase for the lowest paid being a pittance.

I do appreciate what you are saying about very little pay difference between some bands so I guess there is no one size fits all and the agreement needs to be a little more complex.

The greater raise than usual is reflecting greater inflation particularly of basic needs of gas/electric/food and fuel for vehicles. There is no reason to think the higher paid are harder hit by these rises apart from perhaps a small correlation if they live in bigger houses but that's not a given as they might have more energy efficient homes and cars on average.

So overall I think I do agree with the blanket award. If the cost of meeting basic needs has gone up by £300 a month for everybody the pay award tries to help everybody (with maybe £100 a month towards this) rather than a % giving the lowest paid £50 and the highest paid £400 or whatever. The lowest paid are still probably least able to absorb the extra £200 deficit they find themselved in.

Another aspect I think is important is that there has been a worldwide prices shock affecting all of us. I would like everyone to be paid well and not to have to lower their living standards but with only so much money to go around I am more worried about people at the bottom of the tree (e.g. reinstate the £20 boost to universal credit) than the higher paid people.

If people choose to leave the NHS for any of many reasons I don't blame them (and thank you for your service) but aside from 1 or 2 outliers I have heard of I don't think you will find 12% pay rises (inflation beating) outside the NHS either.

Junior doctors missing out is shocking. I followed a thread on here and the hourly rate for what I think was 27k for 48 hour week is shockingly bad. If they can't get a pay rise their week should be reduced to 37hours with paid overtime after that.