£60m equal-pay claims for NHS

MOUNTING equal-pay claims are threatening to cost NHS Lothian more than £60 million, fuelling fears patient care will suffer as health chiefs struggle to meet the bill.

The demands are more than double the amount predicted when unions launched the initial claims last year. More than 2400 current and former staff have now come forward to demand up to five years in back-dated pay.

Cleaners, catering and clerical staff, and nursing assistants are among those making claims on the basis that they were paid less than men in jobs demanding the same level of skills.

The health board has described the potential impact of the claims as a "significant financial risk".

The Scottish Executive is facing mounting calls to guarantee it will cover the bill to ensure patient care does not suffer. Talks are ongoing between NHS representatives nationally over how to approach negotiations with the unions and private solicitors representing claimants.

A total of 9000 claims have been lodged across Scotland.

NHS staff in England and Wales received an average of £30,000 each for similar claims, although differences in employment law north of the Border mean that figure may be nearer £25,000 in Scotland.

Margaret Davidson, chief executive of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "We can't afford to take any more out of the patients' budget.

"The boards don't have the money for this, so it has to come from the Executive."

In the Lothians, public sector union Unison has submitted 2216 claims covered under a collective grievance, while the GMB union is handling a further two claims.

Equal-pay lawyer Stefan Cross, who represented many of the women who made claims in England, is representing another 201 workers.

Pay discrimination in the NHS has been addressed by the new Agenda for Change wage structure, but that only addresses pay from October 2005 onwards.

Jim McCaffery, director of human resources with NHS Lothian, said: "In common with other boards in Scotland, we have received a number of approaches from staff and their representatives in connection with this issue. It is far too early in the process to estimate financial exposure at this time."

Glyn Hawker, from Unison, said: "For decades, workers have not been paid at the level they should have been. We will always have to keep an eye on the impact on patients, but we need the workforce to be respected."

He added: "We hope we can reach a negotiated settlement."

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "We acknowledge that in Scotland there are equal-pay claims against the NHS at varying stages of progress.

"These claims are a matter between employers and employees and will require to be tested through established processes for resolving employment issues.

"In light of that, the Executive continues to monitor the position in relation to this issue."

Equal-pay claims have also affected local authorities, and last year the city council made 3062 settlement offers to female workers, mainly cleaners, catering staff and home-helps. Around 90 per cent of employees have accepted the offer, and the final cost to the council is now estimated at £25m.

Councillor Frank Russell, corporate resources leader, said: "The council has already budgeted for this in its three-year financial planning process."