The Health Minister’s approval of a full 12 months of back pay owed to medical and dental staff has been welcomed.
It follows the outcome of the recent January Monitoring exercise, in which additional funds were distributed.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “I have received an update on the overall financial position of my Department.
“When I met with trades unions on December 10, 2024, I gave them my personal guarantee that I was committed to finding the funding to allow me to meet, in full, the financial consequences of the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies for 2024/25.
“I have now approved payment of the Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental pay deals, backdated to April 1, 2024.
“Amended pay circulars will be issued immediately to this effect.
“I acknowledge that it has been a challenging time for HSC staff as my Department has faced strict financial constraints over the last couple of years and I want to thank trades unions for their engagement and collaboration which has helped secure a full pay deal for all HSC staff.
“The confirmed 2024/25 pay package will see the maintenance of pay parity with England for Health and Social Care staff covered by the Agenda for Change framework. This involves a large proportion of the overall health service workforce in Northern Ireland.”
‘For far too long midwives have been left in limbo about their pay’
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) welcomed the news, which means midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) will now receive their 5.5% pay award, which will be backdated to April 1, 2024 and not May 1, 2024.
Karen Murray, the RCM’s Director for Northern Ireland, said: “This is great news for our hardworking midwives and maternity support workers in Northern Ireland. For far too long they have been left in limbo about their pay while watching their colleagues in England and Wales received their pay awards.
“When we met with the Minster at the end of 2024, he gave us his commitment that he would find the funding that was needed to make this pay award a reality for our members and he has, so we really welcome today’s news.”
The RCM says the new pay circular issued this afternoon has also confirmed that provisions for the incremental pay progression continue to apply where eligible and all Agenda for Change (AfC) staff working in the health service here will now receive a consolidated 5.5% pay award.
Ms Murray added: “In the interest of fairness and parity it was really important that our members in Northern Ireland received a fully backdated pay award and that’s something we have been lobbying for.
“We also welcome the Minster’s acknowledgement of the work of our members and their commitment to delivering safe high quality to women and their families across Northern Ireland.”
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA also welcomed the approval of the medical and dental pay deals.
The North Antrim MLA said: “Sinn Féin has consistently called for fair pay and conditions for all healthcare workers, as set out in the Agenda for Change, and welcome progress on this issue.
“We recognise that there are still ongoing pay negotiations for resident doctors and dentists in training and will continue to stand in solidarity with them to ensure that their contribution is acknowledged and valued.
“It is vital that our health service and those who work within it are properly resourced and supported to ensure it remains sustainable and effective for patients and staff.”
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Meanwhile, Mr Nesbitt has welcomed the appointment of Mike Farrar as interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health.
Mr Farrar will take up his post in April, replacing the current Permanent Secretary Peter May, who is retiring from the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS).
Mr Nesbitt said: “Mike Farrar has a long and impressive track record of health service leadership in the United Kingdom and brings considerable experience of healthcare systems in this country and overseas. This will be of great benefit as we tackle the tremendous challenges in health and social care in Northern Ireland.
“I have made clear my commitment to truly transforming our services, bringing more hope into healthcare and achieving better outcomes for patients. I am looking forward to working with Mike as he takes up this key role at a crucial time for the health and social care system.”
Paying tribute to Peter May, Mr Nesbitt said: “I have often spoken of my admiration for Peter May whose wisdom, experience, integrity and leadership has proved invaluable during an extremely challenging period for our health and social care system.
“I know I speak for everyone who has worked with Peter in thanking him for his years of dedicated service, and not just in Health but across a range of Executive Departments and as a member of the Permanent Secretaries group. He is an extremely diligent and talented public servant, who has always been committed to building a better Northern Ireland for all our citizens.”