RepsDirect No 114 18th May 2001



From
Head of Health, Roger Spiller General Secretary, Roger Lyons

1. Operation PCT

MSF Regional officers have been asked to make contact with each PCT in their Region. This is an organisational change to which we are going to have to respond. The nature of the PCTs means that MSF is likely to be the lead organisation and needs urgently a representative in each to work with the ROs to develop our organisation.

The CPHVA is seeking to expand the number of LARs across England to meet this challenge. These may be needed in the newly created PCTs or in the existing Trusts because LARs have moved across to a PCT. The CPHVA and MSF will be mapping the network of LARs across the PCTs and existing Trusts.

Questions: Are you an existing LAR? Have you moved across to a PCT? Are you prepared to continue as a LAR?

Action: If the answer is yes to all three questions notify Anne Angiolini on 0207 505 3266 or angiolinia@msf.org.uk giving details of your former employer and your new PCT.

Questions: Have you moved across to a PCT? Does your PCT have a LAR for CPHVA members? If not are you prepared to act as a LAR or recipient of Labour Relations advice and information?

Action: If the answers to the above questions are yes, no and yes notify Anne Angiolini giving details of your new PCT.

Questions: Has your LAR moved across to a PCT? If so are you prepared to act as a LAR or recipient of Labour Relations advice and information for those CPHVA members remaining with the Trust?

Action: If the answers to the above questions are yes notify Anne Angiolini that you are the new LAR for your Trust.

Questions: Do you know your MSF Regional Officer? Has he or she been in contact with you since your PCT has been created?

Action: If the answer is no to either question please contact directly your MSF Regional Officer. Details of who this is are available from Anne Angiolini.

The next stage of Operation PCT will be to develop mentoring and training support for the LARs in the PCTs.

2. Health Section Conference

The MSF Health Section Conference will take place on June 12th 2001 at the MSF Annual Conference.

The Health Section Conference will start at the close of the last session of the Annual Conference.

It is open to all delegates to the Annual Conference who work in the Health Service and officers from Occupational Advisory Committees. Invites will be sent directly from the Health Section Office.

For further information contact Neal Evans at evansn@msf.org.uk or on 0207 505 3231.

3. Advance Letters

The direct address for the Health Service Circulars (HSCs) and Advance Letters (Als) - concerning pay for occupational groups) on the DoH web site is: www.doh.gov.uk/coinh.htm

4. Use of Pay Flexibilities

The PTB Advanced Letter included a reference to use of local pay flexibilities.

The relevant section is reproduced for your own information.

Please notify Colin Adkins (details above) in the NHS Section Office if you hear about any developments on this front.

Please notify Colin Adkins, Health Section Research and Policy Officer on 0207 505 3167 or adkinsc@msf.org.uk if you are aware of any development on this front in Trusts that you cover.

1. Employers are reminded of the pay flexibilities provided by existing PTB agreements and the opportunities these provide to take account of local circumstances in determining pay, including addressing recruitment and retention difficulties where pay is judged to be a factor. In summary, as well as the broad flexibilities within the national grading criteria, these are:-

Paragraph 3000 – in the case of new appointees, discretion to appoint to any point on the pay scale taking account of local circumstances and previously acquired skills, experience and qualifications;

Paragraph 3031 – discretion to advance staff (other than trainees) by up to 3 points on a pay scale which carry additional responsibilities or require specialist skills but which do not warrant a higher grade;

Paragraph 3040 to 3047 - discretion to make local pay supplements of up to 20% (30% in the former four Thames NHS regions) to address proven problems in recruitment and retention that could be redressed by pay enhancement.

2. Employers are urged to use these flexibilities creatively to address particular issues, including recruitment and retention problems, where appropriate.

6. Review Body Visits

The Review Body is making a number of visits to Trusts to gather information that will inform their report which recommends the annual uplift for nursing (CPHVA) and Professions Allied to Medicine (PAMs). Details of their visits are attached.

Organisation Date of visit Member/Secretariat
Norwich 3 May 2001 Clive Monks
Steve Palmer/Anna Bonham
North West London 10 May 2001 Millie Banerjee
Steve Palmer/Gwyneth Edwards
Addenbrookes 11 May 2001 Sir Patrick Symons
Anna Bonham
Harrogate 14 May 2001 Clive Booth
Steve Palmer
Dumfries and Galloway 15 May 2001 Pauline Weetman
Jim Bartlett
Steve Palmer
Tayside 5 June 2001 Pauline Weetman
Gwyneth Edwards
Newham 7 June 2001 Millie Banerjee
Anna Bonham
Royal Surrey 11 June 2001 Clive Booth
Steve Palmer
Birmingham 12 June 2001 Jim Bartlett
Gwyneth Edwards
Doncaster 19 June 2001 Clive Monks
Anna Bonham
Carmarthenshire 22 June Clive Booth
Marlene Davies
Gwyneth Edwards
Daventry & South Northamptonshire 9 July 2001 Sir Patrick Symons
Graeme Charles
East Gloucestershire 11 June 2001 Sir Patrick Symons
Marlene Davies
Steve Palmer
Carlisle 22 August 2001 Jim Bartlett
Anna Bonham
Plymouth 20 July (Provisional) Clive Monks
Lincoln   Clive Booth

7. Discretionary Points

The MSF Health Section has produced a briefing giving supplementary guidance on implementing revisions to the agreement on Discretionary Points. This covers Nursing and PAMs staff. Please contact the NHS Health Section conference for a copy of the guidance.