Agenda for Change progress to date is slow
Only 21 per cent of NHS organisations have met the target of transferring at least a half of their staff to Agenda for Change pay bands by the end of April. Agenda
for Change is due to be implemented
for all NHS staff except doctors, dentists and some senior managers by
the end of September.
“I am disappointed by the latest overall position on assimilation
but this position masks some very good performances by individual organisations,” said
Andrew Foster, director of workforce at the Department of Health. He
also commented: “I am satisfied that a solid start has been made
and that the right processes have been put in place locally to ensure
that good progress toward the target in September can be made. It is
also encouraging to see that 48 per cent of staff have already been matched
to their appropriate pay band.”
Tony West, chief pharmacist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation
Trust and president of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists said that
many people, including members of the Government, had underestimated
the amount of work required in assessing the jobs of all NHS staff and
moving them onto the new pay bands. He added, “it takes time to
do it properly and consistently.” Mr West also commented that it
is not clear whether the process is any slower or more complicated for
pharmacy staff.
A number of milestones were announced by the Department of Health in
January to monitor implemenation of Agenda for Change (Hospital Pharmacist 2005;12:46). NHS trusts also have a target of having 40 per cent of staff
with a Knowledge and Skills Framework outline by the end of May and 80
per cent assimilated to their new pay band by the end of June.
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Hospital Pharmacist