Issue details

In 2018, the NHS Staff Council agreed to reform the NHS Pay Structure over a three year period covering April 2018 – March 2021. Between the period April 2018 and March 2020, public health service providers that are commissioned by Local Authorities have been able to seek remuneration in relation to the additional Agenda for Change pay costs directly from the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Public Health ring-fenced grant for 2020/2021, included an adjustment to cover the estimated additional Agenda for Change pay costs of eligible staff working in organisations commissioned by Local Authorities to deliver public health services.

The announcement in March 2023, of the Public Health Grant allocations to Local Authorities for 2023/24 will continue to be subject to conditions. The terms of the Public Health Grant allocation for 2023/24 from the Department of Health and Social Care informed the grant is required to cover all pay pressures for 2023/24, including the impact of NHS pay settlements. Funding previously allocated to reflect the additional costs to local authorities of the 2018 NHS pay settlement is now fully baselined as part of the Grant. Arrangements were put in place by NHS England to help manage the in-year impact of additional NHS pay costs in 2022/23, on a non-recurrent basis. The expectation is that ongoing funding for this pressure will be managed through local authority commissioning streams.

NHS Staff Council voted to accept the pay offer on 2 March 2023 made by the Government in mid-March. The NHS has asked the Government to implement the pay offer as soon as possible, with the expectation that staff will see both the lump sum and the new 2023/24 pay rates in the June salaries.

Under the NHS pay deal announced in March 2023, Agenda for Change staff will also receive a non-consolidated award of 2% of an individual’s salary for 2022 to 2023. This was not factored in by NHS England for the in- year impact of the pay award in 2022/23.