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NMC FEE HIKE SHOULD BE PART OF FUTURE PAY
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The massive hike in registration fees proposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council should be incorporated into future pay negotiations, the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association said today (Friday, 3 October).
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The rise from £60 to £144 for the three year registration period - a 140% increase - is proposed to come into force in August 2004.
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The CPHVA director, Mark Jones said: 'While the increase is much larger than expected, we understand the need for it as it reinforces the very necessary independence of the NMC
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However, we feel that registration fees should be taken into in account in future pay rounds as this is a professional fee that our members have to pay in order to carry out their work as health professionals.'
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I appreciate that the NMC has been hit by the fall in stock market values which slashed the income of its predecessor body, the UKCC, but just underlines the case for financial prudence by the NMC.'
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Amicus Head of Health, Gail Cartmail said: 'This is part of a wider problem right across the health sector - the Health Professions Council has also made a hefty increase in its registration fees.'
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'More professions are lining up for state registration and the problem is that we have no say in these fee increases which is, in effect, a tax on jobs.'
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We support greater regulation, but our members should not be expected to subsidise it. Teachers have their professional fees taken into account in their pay negotiations - the same should happen in the health service.'
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