§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about including Speech and Language Therapists within the remit of the Pay Review Body; and if he will make a statement. [115083]
§ Mr. DenhamWe have received several representations from Trade Union Organisations, hon. Members and individuals about whether other professional groups, including Speech and Language Therapists, should be permitted to come under the remit of the nurses and professions allied to medicine Pay Review Body (NPRB).
Our proposals for modernising National Health Service pay which were published in February 1999 in "Agenda for Change", include bringing some smaller groups of highly qualified staff within the scope of the NPRB, without changing its fundamentally professional character.
Initial discussions with NHS trade unions on pay modernisation resulted in a joint Framework of Principles and Agreed Statement on the Way forward which was published on 8 October 1999. Paragraph 7.2 of the Joint Framework sets out as a starting point for more detailed discussions with trade unions the qualifying criteria for groups to come within the scope of the NPRB.
The criteria are:
Professions with a minimum entry requirement of three years' educational study (or equivalent) to diploma level or higher, in a health specific area (other than medicine or dentistry) and which are state registered and have a substantial majority of members employed in healthcare.The Joint Framework also goes on to say that:
staff groups which support professions added to the NPRB remit, and who have a direct connection with the transferred groups similar to that between nursing auxiliaries and registered nurses would also need to be considered for transfer.
NHS hospital and community health services: staff within North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust, as at 30 September each year Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (numbers (headcount))1 Hospital medical staff and consultants Nursing staff Midwifery staff Health visiting staff Numbers (headcount) Of which medical consultants 1994 2,080 260 2— 340 120 1995 1,830 0 0 350 130 1996 1,620 230 0 390 140 1997 1,670 220 0 450 150 1998 1,720 220 0 460 150 1 A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995, therefore information based on this classification is not comparable with earlier years. 2 Five or less and greater than zero. Notes:
1. Figures exclude learners and agency staff
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
Sources:
Department of Health Non Medical Workforce Census.
Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.