The organisation had previously refused to pay this part of the pay award, stating that it was unaffordable as it had not received funding from the government.
However, due to lobbying by the RCN, the government made further funds available for organisations delivering NHS care to apply for funding to pay their staff in line with their Agenda for Change contracts. Wiltshire Health and Care’s application for those funds was successful.
Steve Pulsford, Operational Manager, RCN South West said: “I am delighted that Wiltshire Health and Care has now agreed to pay staff in line with their NHS colleagues, I know this will be a huge relief to our members. However, we must not be met with a similar challenge year on year. Staff who are providing NHS services deserve to be paid in line with their NHS employed colleagues. Where this is not the case, we will take action to protect the interests of our members.”
Background information
Wiltshire Health and Care LLP was created by three NHS trusts in 2014: Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. It describes itself as an ‘NHS partnership’; however it is an independent company commissioned by the NHS to provide adult community health services in Wiltshire.
Its current contract will be reviewed on 31 March 2024.
Staff were TUPE-transferred to the organisation from the three trusts or are employed on Wiltshire Health and Care contracts. Many were dismayed to discover that this meant they are no longer employed by the NHS and that Wiltshire Health and Care is not an Annex 1 employer, meaning they were not automatically going to get NHS pay awards.
