STAFF at Rowley Regis Hospital will now be paid at least the ‘living wage’ after the hospital’s trust became the first NHS employer in the West Midlands to offer the scheme.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which also runs Sandwell and City hospitals, is ensuring everyone working for them receives a minimum hourly wage of £8.75 – significantly higher than the minimum wage which currently stands at £7.83 per hour.

The real living wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living, providing a voluntary benchmark for employers.

Toby Lewis, the trust’s chief executive, said: “It’s great news that we’ve got accreditation now as a living wage employer. I think we’re one of the first NHS organisations in the country, and certainly in the West Midlands to achieve that.

“This organisation is values based, and part of that is about tackling poverty pay.

“For the lowest paid people who work in our organisation, and do a fantastic job, the living wage is a really important thing and this organisation stands absolutely committed to maintaining our living wage position and hopefully encouraging other public sector bodies locally to tackle poverty pay in our communities.”

Chris Rickards, a trust convenor, who is also the organisation’s trade union representative, added: “It’s absolutely great news that Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has been accredited for the living wage scheme.

“We are in a very deprived part of the West Midlands and for the lower paid staff it has made a huge difference to them.

“It’s important as an employer to be accredited because it sends a clear message out to the population that we care about poverty and that we want to make a difference.

“Hopefully many other employers in the area will take from us the importance of it and they will also aim for accreditation for the living wage scheme.”

Tess Lanning, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has joined the movement of over 4,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“These businesses recognise that paying the real living wage is the mark of a responsible employer and believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”