NHS facing  stiff competition for staff from high street firms, says UNISON   

The NHS risks losing thousands of low-paid staff​ including 999 call handlers, healthcare assistants, medical secretaries and cleaners to the private sector unless wages increase significantly, says a report published today (Monday) by UNISON. Major names on the high street​ including supermarkets, coffee shops and logistics firms​, are among those promoting wages that exceed the lowest hourly rates in the NHS. Morrisons is offering a minimum of £10 an hour compared with £9.49 for a hospital porter or catering assistant, and Amazon’s basic rate is £11.10 for some permanent staff, according to the research commissioned from analysts Incomes Data Research (IDR). The report says that drivers can command even higher rates – United Parcel Service (UPS) is paying £16.49 for large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers when the NHS pays just £10.19. ‘Golden hellos’ worth £1,500, overtime supplements of an extra £2 an hour and staff discounts are among incentives offered by private firms that are proving increasingly attractive to demoralised health workers, says UNISON. The IDR report warns that improvements to basic pay in the private sector represent ‘a much greater recruitment and retention challenge to the NHS than previously’. Next month, the national minimum wage ​will rise to £9.50 an hour. ​This has forced the government to draw up measures to keep NHS pay rates within the law until the 2022 pay award is announced. UNISON says an exodus of even more w...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release NHS pay rise Source Type: news