Debate contribution: Health and Social Care: Pay Awards
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Health and Social Care: Pay Awards
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786313
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. Regrettably, Executive approval has not yet been secured. Approval should, of course, be accompanied by sufficient recurrent funding to assure affordability in this year and future years. I emphasise to Executive and Assembly colleagues as well as the UK Government the increasing urgency of decisions on the matter. Industrial relations across Health and Social Care (HSC) are becoming increasingly fragile. Resident doctors, consultants and specialty, associate specialist and specialist (SAS) doctors have already taken industrial action twice this year. The Royal College of Nursing intends to ballot its members shortly, and other unions are expected to follow early in November. We now face an increasingly precarious position. Staff have waited considerably longer than colleagues in England to receive their 2026-27 pay award. That further delay risks a significant deterioration in relations with staff and trade unions and increases the prospect of industrial action during the winter period — the worst time of the year for that — which would have severe consequences for patients, waiting lists and service delivery. There is also an important operational consideration, My officials have advised that the window of opportunity to implement the arrangements through payroll in this financial year is rapidly narrowing: it closes day by day. The earlier a decision is made, the easier it will be to manage implementation. If the window is missed, there is a risk that implementation will be pushed later into 2027, which would have a severe impact on not only industrial relations but patient safety. It is no longer simply a question of timing. Every week of delay increases industrial relations risks and reduces our ability to implement the award in this financial year. We are approaching the point at which the remaining payroll implementation opportunity could be lost. I therefore strongly urge Executive colleagues and the UK Government to support an immediate decision.
314 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.