Golden hellos and higher wages on the High Street could tempt NHS workers to leave jobs
Incentives are also being given to recruit people into the private sector
Stiff competition from the high-street could turn skilled NHS workers away from the service, according to a trade union.
The Unison union said that if wages and salaries are not increased, skilled cleaners, 999 call handlers and healthcare assistants could be tempted to move to the private sector.
Incentives are also being offered to people looking for work, including so-called 'Golden Hellos' worth £1,500 and staff discounts.
Unison says that supermarkets, coffee shops and logistic firms are amongst the companies offering higher pay rates than the NHS' lowest hourly rate, which is causing staff to consider changing careers.
Drivers in particular will be receive much higher wages if they move from the NHS to the private sector, it was also suggested.
However, the union said that the vast number of potential staff leaving the health service would be "disastrous" for public health.
The NHS is currently facing a staffing crisis, with resources stretched and a widening gap in pay due to inflation.
As a result, the trade union is asking the NHS to consider an above-inflation pay rise, using the Real Living Wage of between £9.90 and £11.05 as a base rate for staff.
In a report published for Unison, the Data Research Centre said: "In the public sector, rising inflation means that the gap between pay rises there and those in the private sector is likely to widen again.
"If the Government does not act to narrow this gap, then the NHS is likely to face many of the problems around staff recruitment, retention and morale that arose in the past."
Speaking on the findings, head of the Unison union Sarah Gorton said that if the NHS does not act now, the already struggling service will be stretched even further.
"It's clear big-name employers who compete with the NHS for staff are acting fast," she said.
"The health service can't function without cleaners, porters, healthcare assistants and other low-paid workers, but no-one would blame them for taking jobs with employers willing to pay better rates.
"The Chancellor's spring statement was silent on public sector pay, but the staffing crisis will deepen unless the Government acts swiftly with a real pay rise that leaves inflation in the shade.
"Workers will then have no choice but to go after better rates on the high street as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. That doesn't bode well for patient care."
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