Band 4 dental nurses working for NHS Direct are to finally receive the same professional clinical registration allowance as their colleagues on Band 5 or above after winning their battle with the health advice service.
NHS Direct have now agreed to pay £38 to all its Band 4 dental nurses to help them meet the £96 annual registration fee that all dental nurses must pay to the General Dental Council .
The payment, which senior nurses on Band 5 and above already receive, was originally agreed upon in last year's pay deal.
UNISON national officer Michael Walker said the deal was a major breakthrough in the union's campaign to win all dental nurses the annual £38 payment.
He commented: "The recognition by NHS Direct of the UNISON dental nurse claim is most welcome, and UNISON hopes that other NHS trusts will now follow suit and recognise the key role of NHS dental nurses ."
