UHUK Calls for Equitable Funding for NHS Pay Awards

UHUK, representing social enterprises and community interest companies providing urgent and integrated care services, urges the Department of Health and Social Care to review and amend their funding decisions for the 2022-23 non-consolidated pay award to include NHS workers in non-Annexe 1 community interest companies and social enterprise and organisations. We also call for UHUK's involvement in future pay award discussions to prevent further discrimination against these essential workers.

UHUK members deliver crucial healthcare services, covering 64% of the UK population, especially during out-of-hours periods. Their employees provide compassionate, dedicated care, relieving pressure on ambulance services, A&E, and GPs. Despite their critical role and close collaboration with the NHS, these employees have been unfairly excluded from the recent pay awards.

When the 2022-23 non-consolidated pay award was announced, tens of thousands of staff anticipated receiving it alongside their NHS colleagues. However, they were dismayed to find out they were excluded. These members of staff, who made exceptional contributions throughout the pandemic, deserve recognition and equitable treatment.

The government’s subsequent announcement enabled 27,000 additional employees to receive the pay award, an outcome we welcome. However, this did not extend to all social enterprises and community interest companies, leaving 15,000 dedicated healthcare professionals feeling undervalued and financially disadvantaged.

All UHUK member organisations that applied for the funding were refused, including those with staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions who transferred under TUPE from NHS roles. This exclusion is particularly unfair to those who were NHS employees for 11 of the 12 months the pay award covered.

UHUK’s members employ motivated teams who provide exceptional care, easing the burden on emergency services and primary care. The lack of recognition is demoralising and could lead to higher attrition rates, which is detrimental when the NHS is already struggling with recruitment and retention. It could also increase costs to NHS commissioners going forward.  UHUK members will have no alternative but to increase salaries to retain staff which they will inevitably seek to recoup in future service contracts.

We support the principle of equity for all healthcare employees who supported the NHS during the pandemic. The current funding disparity is unjust and fails to acknowledge the contributions of those employed by non-annex one organisations.

We urge the Government and DHSC to reconsider their criteria and approach to this pay award funding. Additionally, we call for UHUK’s inclusion in future pay award discussions to ensure fair and equal treatment for all healthcare workers.