Commenting Paul Givan MLA said,
“In December the Department of Health implemented the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body for 2022/23 which increased all agenda for change pay points by at least £1400 and salaried doctors and dentists received an uplift of 4.5%. This award was delayed but has been backdated to the 1st April 2022 with employees due to receive this payment before the end of the financial year. The pay award ensured parity for health workers in Northern Ireland with their colleagues in England and it is right that this should continue with the latest settlement offered by the UK Government to NHS England staff to end the industrial action. This should include the additional pay for 2022/23 and pay settlement for 2023/24 being extended to Northern Ireland health workers and the UK Treasury needs to provide the equivalent level of funding to the Department of Health which reflects how health and social care operates in Northern Ireland. The funding required will be in excess of £300m.
I have met with the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health and expressed my support for this pay settlement to be secured for Northern Ireland. The DUP will be engaging with the Secretary of State and HM Treasury to make the case for equality of treatment for our health workers who are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible care in our Health Service.’