Nurses’ pay review crucial piece of work

One area where it is clearly facing immediate pressure is nurses’ pay.

The Royal College of Nursing is balloting members on a deal for 2017 and 2018 which it has described as a significant move in the right direction, but not perfect.

If accepted, it would see a 4.25% increase in basic pay from April this year. Inflation was 2% in the first quarter of the year.

The union has indicated that it believes nurses are underpaid in comparison with other roles within the public sector.

With Guernsey competing to attract the right people in this area, the review of the nursing pay system backed by the States earlier this term will be a vital piece of work in achieving the right balance in rewarding staff in such a crucial role.

HSC needs to report back to the States by March next year with plans on how to implement its findings.

There are the equivalent of 1,028 full-time nurses and medical consultants employed by the States –the category is the second largest in terms of staff spending at just over £51m. in 2017 – so pay deals in this area exert significant pressure on the overall picture.

But recruitment and retention is about more than basic pay. An attractive working environment – which transformation and the reprofiling of the PEH feeds into – and community play a key role too.

In his annual report, the States chief executive talks of the need to innovate new ways to provide a greater incentive to attract health and social care staff and encourage them to stay for longer periods of time.

There is an administrative burden and cost of dealing with a fluid workforce as well as the impact on continuity of care.

Using agency staff to plug the gaps comes at a price too, but that is one area where greater control is being exerted, with a bill that has fallen from £7.9m. in 2015 to £3.2m. in 2017.