Guild secures 15 per cent salary increase for preregistration
trainees
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The recent pay increase for preregistration
trainees should encourage more pharmacy graduates to consider a
career in the hospital sector
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A pay increase of 15.82 per cent has been successfully
negotiated by the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists for preregistration
trainees employed by the National Health Service.
The pay increase forms part of the 2002–03 pay settlement
for NHS hospital pharmacists. This means that the salaries for preregistration
trainees will rise from £11,138 to £12,900. The 15.82 per cent increase
will also apply to all students undertaking a sandwich course.
Commenting on the award, Ron Pate, chairman of the
Pharmaceutical Whitley Council staff side, stated that the settlement
"is a step in the right direction and should send a positive signal to
preregistration graduates regarding remuneration potential and a future
career in hospital pharmacy."
The guild's pay settlement also includes: an increase
of 3.6 per cent for each point on the pay scale or a minimum of £400,
whichever is the greater; addition of one point to the top of grade D;
removal of the bottom two points of grade H and addition of two new points
(£51,242 and £52,289) at the top; increase in the emergency duty commitment
(EDC) allowance from £2,130 to £2,297; and an increase of 3.6 per cent
to the London allowance (all zones).
The increase in the EDC rate addresses the imbalance
created by the lack of an increase for 2000–01.
Although Mr Pate is pleased with the recent pay
award, as it is in line with offers made to Pay Review Body groups, he
expressed disappointment over the fact that further progress could not
be made in terms of correcting problems created by the 1999–2000 pay award
(that is, the erosion of salary differentials between grades A, B, C,
D and grades D+, E, F, G, H).
In the future, Mr Pate and his team will be hoping
to make progress with the modernisation of hospital pharmacist grading
definitions, including the creation of a consultant pharmacist grade.
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