To ask the Minister of Health to detail the timescale under which a permanent uplift from Band 5 to Band 6 will apply to intensive care unit nurses across all Health Trusts.

There is currently a skills mix of band 5 and band 6 Nurses within Intensive Care Units across the HSC.

Banding of all Agenda for Change roles, including those within nursing, is determined by the duties and responsibilities of a role assessed in partnership with Trades Unions using an agreed job evaluation scheme. Across the UK, jobs are matched to nationally evaluated profiles, based on the roles undertaken.

These profiles work on the basis that similar posts and responsibilities across the UK health services reflect the demands of the job and to ensure equality of pay. This process ensures that the level of post is dependent on the role, not the environment and as there is a difference between roles, for example between a qualified critical care specialist nurse and a nurse working in ICU, a skills mix is necessary. It is not, therefore, appropriate to simply put in place an uplift to all nursing staff working within Intensive Care Units.

Due to the global health emergency and local COVID-19 transmission rates, critical care requirements are significantly stretched across the region, resulting in increased pressures on the critical care nursing workforce.

In recognition of this, my Department is currently considering if temporary arrangements can be put in place for progression of Band 5 to Band 6 for critical care nurses who meet agreed criteria.