Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health what actions are being taken to provide healthcare workers with an income which recognises properly their roles and responsibilities.
Minister of Health: Our health and social care workforce are employed within the HSC on Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions, which matches roles and responsibilities to pay bands. The pay round for AfC staff has not yet been finalised. Any decision on a pay award for NI health workers will be taken after the pay review bodies make their recommendations. I do not intend to pre-empt those recommendations. NHSPRB is expected to publish its report in May 2021.
Our pay award decisions can also only be taken in the context of a wider public sector pay policy set by the Department of Finance.
Please be assured that both I and my Department remain committed to a fair pay settlement for all our healthcare staff going forward.
ENDS
Your MLA 