On-call allowance safe until 2010
Payment of the on-call allowance for hospital staff will continue until 31 March 2010, the NHS Staff Council has agreed.
On-call arrangements are due to be altered under the terms of Agenda
for Change, with the current allowance, which pays pharmacists approximately £2,500
per year, initially protected only until the end of September this year.
Dave Thornton, chairman of the terms and conditions committee, Guild
of Healthcare Pharmacists, has welcomed the extended protection period.
He said the structure of payment that has been proposed to replace the
current arrangements would mean a salary reduction for most on-call pharmacists.
A sub-group of the NHS Staff Council will be convened to examine on-call
work in the NHS and develop a new system of remuneration before the end
of the extended protection period. The health sector of Unite has formed
an on-call working group, which includes a representative from the guild.
Any proposals will be subject to a ballot of Unite members.
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Hospital
Pharmacist