The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7313 p245
21 August 2004

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Unsocial hours arrangements left out of “Agenda for change”

A joint statement on “Agenda for change” has been issued this week by the Department of Health and NHS union representatives following a review of the early implementation process. The two sides agree that, subject to the agreement of key stakeholders, “Agenda for change” should go ahead from 1 December but backdated to 1 October. However, they propose that new arrangements for unsocial hours should not be included.

The joint statement proposes that new hours of work should take effect from 1 December and all other conditions, except for unsocial hours arrangements, should be backdated to 1 October. What will happen to the arrangements for unsocial hours remains unclear. The statement proposes that an interim system, based on current Whitley unsocial hours arrangements, should apply until a review is completed.

Other proposals include new on-call arrangements being available but with the alternative of allowing current arrangements to continue for a four-year protection period and a new pay band 9 being added. Further details will be sent to NHS staff shortly.


News feature, p249