BBC News reports some NHS staff temporary staff in England say they are not receiving an extra one-off payment awarded by the government as part of the latest pay deal for nurses and other workers such as ambulance crews. The issue is affecting some of the temporary staff who provide temporary cover for hospital trusts to fill rota gaps. Some say they have not received the lump sum, of at least £1,655. It was part of the new pay agreement for more than a million NHS workers, in addition to a 5% rise.

The Department of Health and Social Care says the deal, agreed with most unions, involved a one-off payment for staff directly employed by NHS organisations, but for those on locally managed contracts, such as bank staff (the temporary staff), it was up to individual employers to determine pay and conditions. The NHS Confederation has called on ministers to intervene, warning there is a danger of a two-tier system being created.

Bank staff are not employed on the national Agenda for Change contract other nurses and healthcare staff fall under. The Agenda for Change pay deal covers most NHS staff, except doctors and dentists, who are on a different contract. It was reached after a series of strikes by workers over concerns about rising inflation outstripping pay awards.