Hospital Pharmacist
2008;15:77
March 2008

News summary

Unsocial hours pay agreed

Proposals for the rate of pay for unsocial hours have been accepted by NHS staff. The proposals relate to hours worked during the normal working week — arrangements for overtime, on-call or residency agreements are unaffected. The proposals specify that:

• Hours worked between 8pm and 6am on a weekday, or any hours on a Saturday, will be paid at the standard hourly rate plus 30 per cent

• Hours worked on a Sunday or bank holiday will be paid at the standard hourly rate plus 60 per cent

The proposals were accepted following a recent ballot of Unite members working in the NHS.

Dave Thornton, chair of the terms and conditions committee at the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, believes that for most pharmacists, this would only result in a change in bank holiday arrangements.

Issues relating to on-call and emergency duty payments are to be addressed in negotiations that are due to start next month.