29th June 2004

Agenda for Change will lead to speech and language therapy exodus

Worse still for the future of the profession, 85% of student SLTs would leave the profession on qualification, according to a members survey conducted by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

"The results of our survey reflect the strength of feeling amongst our members, some of whom will see their salaries cut by £8,000 a year as a consequence of Agenda for Change. We are very concerned that the implementation of the government's proposals as they stand right now will result in a dramatic fall in numbers of SLTs," said RCSLT Professional Director Kamini Gadhok.

"This has worrying implications for the availability and quality of speech and language therapy services to vulnerable children and adults across the country - services which are already suffering from severe shortages of trained therapists.

"Agenda for Change also reverses the 2000 European High Court ruling that awarded SLTs equality of pay with clinical psychologists. Under the new proposals, SLTs will be paid less than clinical psychologists at every stage of their careers, negatively impacting the ability of the NHS to recruit and retain therapists."

Under Agenda for Change, the new pay and productivity proposals for the NHS, the pay scales of SLTs will be dramatically reduced at almost every level. There will also be a phased increase in working hours for SLTs with no additional remuneration.

Results of early implementer test sites across the UK show that 40% of health workers will receive a reduction in pay - City Hospitals Sunderland, for example, has decided not to implement Agenda for Change.

The results in full

Q. If Agenda for Change is introduced as it stands now, would you leave the profession?

The RCSLT, on behalf of its members, is calling upon the Department of Health to: recognise that Agenda for Change in its current format will have a detrimental effect on speech and language therapy services; ensure that the national profiles are appropriate and that the process is robust before national rollout.

The RCSLT has been inundated with emails from members voicing their concerns about AfC. The following comments are typical of those received:

"AfC has nothing positive to offer to SLTs. The career structure which has been fought for and achieved after many years appears to be going to be swept away."

"AfC is seeking to drastically reduce the quality of my working life. I will not take a pay cut, will not work more hours and may decide to work independently or take-up my previous career. The NHS is treating us appallingly."

"If I do receive a pay cut, or I am expected to work more hours for the same money, I shall feel extremely undervalued and will seriously consider leaving the profession or at least setting up in independent practice."

"I stand to lose out immediately if AfC is passed as I am on a fixed term contract with Sure Start seconded from a team that I intend to return to work in. I would certainly feel reluctant to work more hours for less pay.

"My own concern is for client care. Demotivated staff don't provide clinically effective services. I certainly will be thinking very carefully about any 'add-ons' to my existing role. I don't see that there will be any incentive to take on any further duties to my existing role."

Ends

Notes for editors:

• The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has 12,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct. Visit: www.rcslt.org

For more information contact:

For more information contact Steven Harulow, email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org tel: 020 7378 3004