Health staff to receive letter about pay offer

Health staff in Northern Ireland are to receive a letter from their respective health trusts about a formal pay offer.

The Department of Health made the offer to trade unions in November.

It is based on applying this year's English NHS pay settlement to current pay rates in Northern Ireland.

It would represent an estimated 3% increase on the pay bill for staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

Key elements of the package, which would be backdated to April, are a minimum rate of pay to be set at £16,943 - an increase of up to 15.5% for some of the lowest paid employees - equating to an hourly rate of £8.67.

'Budgetary pressure'

Last month, health unions rejected the offer and said further negotiations were necessary.

Department of Health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly said Stormont officials had "worked hard to make this possible".

"I am very grateful to staff across the sector and our trade union colleagues for their forbearance while we were doing so," he added.

"In common with many other parts of the public sector, health and social care services are facing intense budgetary pressure."

"Nevertheless, a pay settlement that recognises and rewards our hard-working staff has been an important priority, reflecting our determination to build a sustainable workforce."

The department is also in the process of considering doctors' and dentists' pay awards for 2018-19.