The NHS Employers organisation believes the Doctors and Dentists Remuneration Body (DDRB) should not recommend an increase in pay scales for NHS doctors over the next financial year.
This will help organisations maintain the quality of NHS patient care, tackle an unprecedented savings challenge and minimise job losses.
In its annual submission to the DDRB, the NHS Employers organisation says those managing the health system do not believe increases in national pay rates from April 2013 are necessary or affordable.
Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, says:
"Everyone, including doctors, knows these are challenging times for us all. The simple truth is that NHS organisations cannot afford an unnecessary increase in doctors' pay rates over the next year without it impacting on patient care.
"We have asked the DDRB not to recommend increasing the national pay scales from April 2013. If we do increase pay, we risk serious consequences for the sustainability of some NHS services and their responsiveness to local needs. It will mean less investment for patient services and a greater risk of NHS job losses.
Our evidence was gathered through a continuing programme of employer engagement with the full range of NHS organisations on their priorities for national pay and conditions of service over the last year.
Key messages to the DDRB include:
- The current national pay and conditions arrangements are increasingly not affordable for employers in the NHS, who are faced with the task of meeting growing demand and sustaining the quality of patient care while achieving unprecedented efficiency savings of up to £20bn by March 2015.
- Restraining pay is essential to protect services and minimise job losses.
- There is no evidence from employers that any increase in the national scales is necessary for the recruitment, retention or motivation of staff.
Further information
A copy of the full NHS Employers’ submission to the pay review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration 2013/14 is now available to download.
