Ballots could see delay back on the Agenda

The national rollout of the Agenda for Change pay system could be delayed further, because the result of the union ballots on whether the system should be nationally implemented will not be known until after implementation is due.

Union ballots on whether to accept the new system are not expected to take place until September, with results expected in late October. This is due to delayed progress at early implementer sites, HSJ has learned.

But national roll-out of the universal pay overhaul is scheduled to begin on 1 October.

Unison, the largest union involved in 'staff-side'negotiations yet to seek final approval for the new pay deal, now wants assurance from the Department of Health that it will put back implementation until after its votes are calculated in late October.

Unison national secretary Paul Marks said: 'The early implementers have taken a lot longer to assimilate people than initially hoped because of the size of the exercise. This means we will not be able to go to our people with a full evaluation and position until a later date.'

Concern is particularly strong in Scotland. Unison's Scottish organiser for health Jim Devine announced at a regional meeting that healthcare workers north of the border could vote to reject the deal unless some of the proposals were 'repackaged'. Key concerns include rates for working unsocial hours and ensuring that particular administrative and clerical staff are placed in the appropriate band.

'It is important we get [Agenda for Change] right. Unfortunately, as it is presently packaged, members in Scotland could reject these proposals because they do not meet the aspirations of our members, ' Mr Devine said. The national evaluation report is expected to be ready for circulation in April.

Despite ongoing delays, David Moss, DoH pay reform delivery board chair and Southampton University Hospitals trust chief executive, said NHS-wide implementation by March 2005 is still 'achievable'.

The Department of Health is to rethink the grading of NHS finance staff under Agenda for Change, following fears that it could leave thousands facing what would effectively be pay cuts.

Concerns about the new system have been raised by the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Having assessed the early implementer sites, the association said that Agenda for Change would undervalue the skills and contributions of staff with no direct patient contact.

HFMA chief executive Mark Knight said the problem was particularly acute in finance departments, where existing national job profiles were pegging salary levels 'well below' existing market rates.

Although staff would have their pay protected under the policy, the HFMA said they could face an effective pay freeze while their Agenda for Change pay banding caught up with their actual pay.

According to an HFMA survey last month, an invoice clerk could see 'an effective pay cut'of around£4,500 a year because their salary would not rise as expected.For a director of finance, the figure could rise up to£30,000 a year.

Following discussions, DoH director of human resources Andrew Foster has recognised the need for further work, which will result in the mapping of career development pathways for finance staff in the NHS.