Seòmar agus comataidhean

The implementation of Agendafor Change has taken longer than had been anticipated but the volume and complexityof the task of assessing pay for over 140,000 plus staff should not be underestimated.In addition, it was agreed in partnership that the assessment process put in placeshould be very deliberate and robust, which includes checking outcomes at locallevel to ensure consistency and then reviewing them at national level to ensurethat the job evaluation system is being correctly applied. There was and remainsa consensus of view across the health service that key to the successful deliveryof Agenda for Change pay was consistency and accuracy of assessment, rather thanspeed of process.

Normally, staff would have togo through both the local and national checking processes before they could be assimilatedto the new pay bands. However, in order to help conclude implementation of Agendafor Change, in March of this year it was agreed in partnership that staff couldassimilate after the local process was completed, with the national process carriedout with retrospective effect.

The national review process continuesat a significant pace, and I am pleased to say that we are close to completing themovement of staff to the new pay bands. In this respect, the great efforts thathealth boards and the trades unions have put in should be acknowledged.

In terms of NHSScotland as awhole, there are approximately 6,000 postholders still awaiting national review.In the case of NHS Tayside, 929 postholders have been reviewed recently, and thereports on these will be sent to NHS Tayside within the next seven to 10 days. Thisleaves a total of 98 postholders awaiting national review, and this will take placeover the coming weeks.