Nurses’ union anger over ‘pitiful’ 1% NHS pay rise
Worth remembering in the context of this story that it is disproportionately difficult to recruit healthcare staff to work in rural settings. It tells us:
The government can expect a “backlash” if it goes ahead with a proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff in England next year, a nursing union has warned.
The health department has made the recommendation in a submission to the independent panel that advises on NHS salaries.
The Royal College of Nursing called the suggested rise “pitiful” and said nurses should be getting 12.5% more.
NHS staff have been excluded from a pay freeze for most public sector workers.
The NHS Pay Review Body is due to recommend salary levels for health service staff before early May, before ministers then make a final decision.
In its submission, the health department said awarding NHS staff a “headline” pay increase of more than 1% “would require re-prioritisation”.