Radiography at breaking point over pay and staffing, Government warned

By Alan Jones, Reporter15th February 2024News EnglandGovernment / Politics, Hospitals, News England, NHS, Pay and Conditions, Workforce

The Government is being warned it will face growing NHS waiting lists and more staff leaving if it does not commit to fully-funded pay awards.

The Society of Radiographers said there have been 15 years of underfunding in the health service.

In its written evidence to the Pay Review Body, the society highlighted “acute” shortages in the radiography workforce.

More than a million patients are currently waiting to see a radiographer, it said, adding that long waiting times mean that cases become more complex, and for some patients even a two-week delay can mean the difference between life and death.

Dean Rogers (pictured), director of industrial strategy for the society, said: “NHS professionals are not only paid less than private-sector employees, but less than those in other parts of the public sector as well.

“NHS pay scales look like they are designed to make people want to leave. This is borne out on hospital wards. The average vacancy rate for radiography has risen to 13.4%.

“A recent survey of our members revealed that 82% could only fill their departmental roster with regular overtime shifts, because of staff shortages.

“Recent pay awards have failed to address our key concerns, and have exacerbated the workforce crisis.

“This means the service is at breaking point.”

Some other health unions are refusing to deal with the Pay Review Body this year, arguing it is not independent, and have instead submitted evidence direct to the Department of Health.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said in its evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body that paying staff fairly and valuing their skilled work were important to resolve the maternity staffing “crisis”.

Below inflation pay awards and decades of pay restraint were among the reasons the NHS was losing so many experienced midwives, it warned.

Maternity services were often only functioning safely because of staff working long and additional hours, often unpaid, said the RCM.

Gill Walton, RCM’s General Secretary said: “The 2023 pay increases did not address the real term pay cuts suffered by midwives for more than a decade and it certainly has not resolved the workforce crisis blighting midwifery.

“Our members tell us pay is one of the main reasons they are considering leaving midwifery or why they have already left.

“Midwives and maternity support workers have had to face the cost-of-living crisis with a below inflation pay award, how is that fair?

“It’s made staff feel less valued and chipped away at morale. Moreover, it has meant that some of our members are really struggling financially, turning to foodbanks for support.

“Some staff rooms now even have food boxes to help those struggling, which is something I never thought I’d see.

“Urgent action on staff retention is crucial and while pay is not the whole solution, it is absolutely a key factor to staff wanting to stay working in the NHS.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Radiographers play a vital role in the NHS, both diagnosing and treating patients. We appreciate all the hard work that radiographers do, including their importance when it comes to tackling waiting lists.

“We have asked the independent pay review bodies to make recommendations on pay for 2024/25 – as is usual practice for the NHS workforce.

“These independent bodies are made up of industry experts. When making their recommendations, they take into account several factors including the economic context, cost of living, recruitment and retention, morale, and motivation of NHS staff.”

“We have asked the independent pay review bodies to make recommendations on pay for 2024/25 – as is usual practice for the NHS workforce.