Whilst the Government is still insisting on 50% cuts within ICBs which will result in significant job losses, there is now some assurance that staff will be able to apply for VR if they so wish. The PDA has always advocated that should there be job losses, a voluntary redundancy scheme should be made available first to reduce the number of required compulsory redundancies. The decision to opt for voluntary redundancy is a very personal decision which an individual should make by taking into consideration their personal finances and broader circumstances.
The PDA was disappointed that the cuts were described as affecting “administrative staff”. Pharmacists are highly skilled clinicians who are responsible for medicines safety for a regional population as well as saving the NHS millions in terms of the prescribing budget. As such the language is not appropriate and denigrates the important clinical work pharmacists do as part of ICBs.
PDA Union Director, Paul Day said: “The lack of awareness of the important work pharmacists actually do within ICBs, on top of the personal impact of uncertainty and delay experienced by those pharmacists and their families impacted by this process really shows that this could have been managed much better.”
As part of the NHS Staff Council structures and Social Partnership Forum the PDA is working constructively with the other health unions to influence this situation for all employees. Alongside that activity the PDA has kept its members informed throughout this period and PDA staff and ICB reps have been representing the interests of members at many meetings round the country over the last year.
Whilst most staff will have been briefed by their employer by now, once more details are given on this, the PDA will hold an all-members’ meeting to discuss and outline the support that it can provide. PDA members can also talk to the representative in their workplace. If there is not yet a rep in the workplace and members are interested in becoming a PDA representative, please email on [email protected] to ask for more information.
Members with individual and specific enquiries can contact the PDA Member Support Centre.
Learn more
- PDA provides ongoing support to ICB, CSU and NHSE members
- Potential redundancies in ICBs, CSUs and NHSE
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook
- Redundancy – a guide for PDA members
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