Pay uplift brings Northern Ireland health staff back in line with England but won't avert looming strikes

The move isn't enough, however, to avert strike action across Northern Ireland hospitals due to take place next week.

Several trade unions across the UK – including in Northern Ireland – have already balloted members on the pay award, with nurses, hospital porters, cleaners, carers and other health workers voting in favour of strike action in all four UK nations.

The pay award, worth at least £1,400 per year or around 4.5%, had been recommended back in July by a pay review body but had never been implemented due to the collapse of devolved government at Stormont earlier this year.

It is possible now, the Department of Health has said, due what a spokesperson described as "three key developments".

One was the announcement of a budget for Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris last month.

Another is the passage of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill at Westminster earlier this week.

The final development was the publication on Thursday of public sector pay guidance for the 2022/23 financial year by the Department of Finance.

Former Health Minister Robin Swann, meanwhile, said the delay in putting the award forward was "shameful" and an "outrage".

In a statement, the UUP MLA said; "Earlier this year when the recommendations were announced, I made it clear that I accepted the increases and stated I wished to see them implemented as quickly as they could legally be delivered.

“Restoring pay parity was the very first decision I took as Minister in early January 2020 and it’s been shameful that due to lack of a functioning Executive, a gap in pay had developed once again over recent months.

“Whilst I fully appreciate that the national pay recommendations of at least an extra £1,400 per year or a 4.5% increase still falls short of what many Health and Social Care (HSC) staff are seeking in the midst of the current cost of living crisis, it’s an outrage that they had to wait so long into the year for even the basic increase to be implemented."

He also expressed concern about the impact on services of the extra spending, saying: “I am concerned that given the ongoing budgetary uncertainty at Stormont and the fact that the budget for 2022/23 has only just been agreed four months from the end of the year, that the funding for this essential pay award may come at the expense of investing critical resources at the continued efforts underway to tackle waiting times. I really hope it isn’t an either-or situation.”

The former minister added: “Given we are now only a couple of weeks away from Christmas it’s my sincere hope that the increases in pay, backdated to April 2022, can be included in the December pay of our health workers.”

A spokesperson for the Department said: “All Agenda for Change pay points will increase by at least £1400 per annum while salaried doctors and dentists will receive an uplift of 4.5% with both pay increases back dated to 1 April 2022. Implementation of the pay award for Agenda for Change staff will ensure continuation of pay parity with colleagues in England.”