NURSES who were excluded from an 'NHS backlog bonus' payment have now been told they will receive the money, which was "personally approved" by John Glen.

Wiltshire Health and Care LLP confirmed on Friday, March 22, that it will pay staff, in line with other NHS staff, a lump sum of up to £1,655 which NHS contractors secured in June, 2023.

The organisation had previously refused to pay this part of the pay award stating that it was unaffordable as they had not received funding from the Government.

However, due to lobbying by the Royal College of Nursing, combined with protests across the county, the Government made further funds available for organisations delivering NHS care to apply for funding to pay their staff.

Wiltshire Health and Care’s application for those funds was successful.

Salisbury Journal: Kate Buttimer distributed flyers encouraging members of the public to sign a petition online bringing attention to community nurses who were excluded from NHS bonuses. Kate Buttimer distributed flyers encouraging members of the public to sign a petition online bringing attention to community nurses who were excluded from NHS bonuses. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Steve Pulsford, operational manager at RCN South West said: “I am delighted that Wiltshire Health and Care have now agreed to pay staff in line with their NHS colleagues, I know this will be a huge relief to our members.

"However, we must not be met with a similar challenge year on year. Staff who are providing NHS services deserve to be paid in line with their NHS employed colleagues.

"Where this is not the case, we will take action to protect the interests of our members.”

Salisbury MP 'personally approved' the payments

John Glen, MP for Salisbury, met with the group in June 2023 and heard their upset about not receiving the backlog bonus.

Nine months later, Mr Glen announced he 'personally approved' the additional payments in his capacity as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Salisbury Journal: John Glen, MP for Salisbury.John Glen, MP for Salisbury. (Image: James Manning / Press Association)

In a statement, Mr Glen wrote: "The payments have taken far too long to reach their deserving recipients but, after a lot of chasing and working closely with the local Integrated Care Board, I am delighted the payments have finally been made.

"I know this will help hard working staff feel valued as core members of the NHS family."

Wiltshire Health and Care LLP was created by three NHS trusts in 2014, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.

Read more: ​Wiltshire community nurses left out of bonuses by technicality

The group describes itself as an ‘NHS partnership’, however it is an independent company commissioned by the NHS to provide adult community health services in Wiltshire. Its current contract will be reviewed on March 31, 2024.

Staff were TUPE transferred to the organisation from the three trusts or are employed on WHC contracts.

Many were dismayed to discover that this meant they are no longer employed by the NHS and that WHC are not an annex one employer meaning they were not automatically going to get NHS pay awards.

Wiltshire Health and Care was approached for comment.