Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
The Department told the National Audit Office that its policy position on salary advance schemes...
Conclusion
The Department told the National Audit Office that its policy position on salary advance schemes is that their use is a matter for individual NHS trusts and for that reason it would not provide advice or guidance to NHS trusts on the schemes. The Department also told the National Audit Office that NHS trusts were best placed to decide how different pay flexibilities, such as salary advance schemes, fit with their overall reward strategies. The Department also confirmed that it does not offer salary advance schemes or anything resembling this type of salary advance scheme to its own employees.27
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4a PAC recommendation: The Department, working with NHSE&I, should adopt a formal process for ensuring that government advice is disseminated to NHS trust leadership for consideration and implementation if relevant. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 4.2 The Public Contract Regulations apply to all public sector contracting authorities, including NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts. The Cabinet Office formulates public procurement policy and disseminates policy advice to the public sector through a process involving the publication of Procurement Policy Notices, such as PPN 04/2021, on GOV.UK. NHS England & Improvement’s (NHSE&I) Chief Commercial Officer is a member of the GCF which is a part of the Cabinet Office. However, as NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts are independent legal entities and not Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) of the department, it would not be normal practice to disseminate advice aimed at government departments and ALBs to the NHS where it is not operationally relevant; for example, the salary advanced scheme guidance, as this was not aimed at staff on NHS terms and conditions. 4.3 NHSE&I has a process for disseminating relevant government advice to NHS trusts. Relevant updates are included, for example, in their twice-weekly Healthcare Leaders Bulletin which brings together important updates for the NHS colleagues – this includes relevant updates from the department, other partners and stakeholders. NHSE&I also has a formal route to system leaders through its Single Point of Contact team – this route is only used for items requiring immediate attention, to ensure it is not overburdening the system with multiple separate communications.