Here's a copy of the letter I sent to my MP, Mel Stride (con) regarding the NHS pay cartel which proposes reducing pay for staff to save money-
Dear Mel Stride,
I have been following the recent stories regarding the South West NHS
pay cartel, the details of which I'm sure you are aware of as it will
affect Trusts covering your constituency but also I believe is a
worrying trend for us all.
If these Trusts are able to go outside of the national Agenda for
Change payscales it potentially will increase the likelihood of good
care being a postcode lottery as:
1) The Trusts struggle to attract and retain clinicians and other
medical staff as their payscales can't compete with a Trust not taking
part in this;
2) Staff working above and beyond their contracted hours (there is an
awful lot of "good will" working at present as I'm sure you know) might
work to rule;
3) The motivation and morale of staff (and this is something quoted by
the Trusts not taking part) will suffer. Staff are already coping with
pay freezes while the costs of living increase, many of which are felt
more in the South West due to the rurality of Devon and it's
neighbouring Counties. The cost of fuel for example is crippling.
Other knock-on effects as incomes fall might be:
1) House repossessions as families struggle to make ends meet;
2) An increase in personal debt;
3) An increase in the burden on the benefits system as incomes fall.
The Trusts themselves might be affected too as staff being less willing
to work additional, non-contracted and unpaid hours will lead to an
increase in agency spend. It is also a possibility that the pressures
related to the financial burdens on staff will increase sickness/stress
related leave.
While I understand the QIPP mandate to reduce costs in the NHS I
believe that the increase in demand on the NHS and also social services
means that the focus should be on making ourselves more efficient with
what we have now rather than reducing resource and expecting it to
deliver the same service.
The NHS is a national treasure, something we should be proud of and I
think the majority of the population are proud of it but maybe some of
us don't appreciate what we have until it's gone and that's why this
and other schemes which undermine and reduce the effectiveness of the
NHS must be opposed or at least undertaken after public consultation
and with the input of staff, unions and politicians from all parties.
Yours sincerely,
Rich Mills
p.s. Many thanks for your replies to previous messages.
