AQW 17802/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health why the pay rise to health service workers, due in April 2024, has not yet been paid.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 7 November 2024
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Priority
- Tabled
- 7 November 2024
- Answer due by
- 15 November 2024
- Answered
- 19 November 202412 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
Ahead of the NI Executive monitoring round, my Department was faced with a budget deficit in terms of available funding to meet the cost of maintaining core health and social care services at current levels.
Despite an unprecedented level of savings of £200m implemented across HSC, the allocation of £350m in October monitoring, while welcome, has still left a funding gap of £100m to meet service pressures and pay uplifts.
Last week I met with Trade Unions representing Agenda for Change health staff and firm proposals on a pay deal have been put to them, which they will now consider. It is important to recognise that further work still needs to be undertaken in order to reach a resolution to the issue of health service pay. It is also important to recognise that the challenges facing public sector pay in general will only be resolved through an all-executive approach.