On the picket line consisting entirely of women in South Wales, health visitor Jo Hyde expresses her strong desire to return to her essential work supporting families in Merthyr Tydfil. Jo, 55, residing in Ogmore in the Vale of Glamorgan, emphasizes that this strike, the first in her 36-year career, was a last resort after exhausting all other options. The primary goal remains ensuring families receive the necessary support while maintaining a high-quality service that values and respects individuals, ensuring recruitment and retention of top professionals.
While recent news has focused on the national strike involving resident doctors, health visitors like Jo, employed by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB), have been on strike for seven weeks. Over 100 health visitors covering economically disadvantaged areas such as Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Bridgend are protesting a banding decision that has resulted in significant financial losses of £8000 to £9000 annually. Jo highlights the disparity in pay for health visitors across different regions, stressing the need for fair compensation for the vital services they provide.
These dedicated health visitors, predominantly women, argue that the criteria within the Agenda for Change pay system has been inconsistently applied, leading to discrepancies in pay grades. They underscore that while health visitors in Scotland are recognized as Band 7 due to their specialized skills and qualifications, their counterparts in Wales and England are classified as Band 6, resulting in a substantial pay gap.
Supporting the health visitors’ cause, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham condemns the health board’s refusal to adequately compensate its staff, emphasizing the urgent need to rectify the undervaluation and underpayment of these essential workers. Amidst the strike, former midwife Jenna Terry, now a health visitor, expresses her concern for the families she serves, highlighting the necessity of fair pay and recognition for the crucial role health visitors play in society.
The health visitors’ expertise and qualifications, including Master’s-level education, equip them to manage complex caseloads and provide a wide range of services to families. Despite their extensive responsibilities, the discrepancy in pay grades compared to their counterparts in Scotland remains a point of contention, fueling the ongoing strike.
In response to the dispute, the CTM Health Board states that the job description for health visitors was re-evaluated through a collaborative process, resulting in the maintenance of the Band 6 classification. The board asserts that the pay banding for health visitors aligns with national standards across England and Wales.
Melani Smith, a veteran health visitor with 42 years of experience, underscores the increasing responsibilities and expertise required in the role, emphasizing the need for fair compensation that reflects the evolving nature of their work. Despite the reluctance to strike, health visitors like Melani and Jenna remain steadfast in their demand for equitable pay and recognition for their invaluable contributions to the healthcare system.
As the strike in South Wales continues, health visitors are set to join a national protest against NHS cuts, standing in solidarity with other healthcare workers to advocate for fair treatment and acknowledgment of their essential role within the healthcare sector.