NHS Employers responds to the AfC pay structure reform negotiations

Responding to the news that a mandate has been provided to the NHS Staff Council for Agenda for Change (AfC) pay negotiations to proceed, Dean Royles, interim chief executive at NHS Employers, said:

“This is a significant moment for the NHS. A mandate has been provided to the NHS Staff Council for negotiations by the governments of England, Wales and Northern Ireland following the recommendation from the NHS Pay Review Body.

“It has been 25 years since Agenda for Change (AfC), the pay structure covering over a million NHS staff, was introduced to simplify NHS pay scales and ensuring equal pay for work of equal value. During that time there have been significant changes to the pay landscape, including the introduction of the National Minimum Wage and important developments in both services and career pathways across the NHS.

“Negotiations involving NHS employers, working alongside governments and the health service unions, will commence shortly with the goal of ensuring that the AfC pay structure remains fit for purpose. This will enable the health service to recruit and retain a skilled workforce that can continue to deliver high-quality patient care.

“We all recognise that employers are working in a challenging financial environment, so any changes must be affordable, support the delivery of the government's 10 Year Health Plan and be easy to implement.”

Further information

Read the NHS Staff Council joint statement.