EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Some Advice..........

Hi Gooner,
There is absolutely no way you should be on a band 4! Only a trainee working towards the qualifications you already have should be on that banding. On your qualifications alone you should be a band 5 and with your experience on top you should be a band 6.
As Geoff says, being happy in your job is important but you should also be able to earn a decent wage!
It sounds like your management is stringing you along and enjoying some cheap labour.
As for the degree, a lot of NHS employers are asking for them now, but it is usually only for band 7+. And even then experience is looked upon as a more important aspect. As a lot of graduates out there don't know their a**e from their elbow.

Hi Gooner,

IMHO you do not need further qualification just to get paid well. You have got enough experience/education to get a band 5/6 easily in any NHS hospital. That's one of the drawback in being one place for so long, they start taking you as granted.

If I were you I would change my job/place or go for private companies/OEM.

The requirement for the degree over an HND has been pushed by the VRCT fans. Many people got grandfathered in, but now it is harder to find hospitals willing to accept experience as a substitute.

Also, some hospitals seem to be downgrading their technical staff, so where previously they had a Band 6 and they left, the replacement is hired at Band 5. The chances of finding any difference in the two job descriptions will be few!