Thank NHS medics with more than just words

GOVERNMENT has been rightly effusive in its thanks to frontline NHS workers coping with Covid. AS a hospital governor, I know the degree of self-sacrifice has been enormous.

However, senior managers in the NHS are becoming increasingly concerned at the growing number of vacancies, currently in the order of over 80,000.

Nurses and doctors in particular are in short supply as Government has discovered when trying to find staff for Nightingale Hospitals.

Nursing is now a degree profession and they have to pay for their training.

Their rates of remuneration, especially in relation to responsibilities undertaken, has comparatively fallen behind over the years.

The advent of Covid has highlighted the fact that many have to cope with excessive pressure and stress.

Last December, Health Minister, Matt Hancock indicated that due to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spending review, there would be a delay in making an award.

He did, however, concede that the profession would not be subject to the public sector pay freeze, the latest forecast for an award being some time in April/ May. Yet another minister that believes that bureaucrats should not be rushed.

I realise that we taxpayers have to foot the bill, but any award in single figures would be insulting after all the praise that has been heaped on our nursing staff by Ministers.

Yes, this would be a big leap, but if the nation is going to pay a fair rate for the job, then this bill and our debt has to be paid.

Without skilled nursing, Covid death rate figures would have been far worse resulting any many more grieving relatives.

With regard to doctors, their rates of pay in relation to responsibilities also has to be considered.

If more are to be attracted to the profession, then pay scales have to be made attractive if vacancies are to be filled.

As a nation, we must say thank you properly to our medics.

DEAR Editor, Regarding Birmingham City Council and its finances, aims and duties, it is the usual merry-go-round of opposition members criticising the ruling party over the increase in the Council Tax rate of 4.99 per cent, which we all know is pointless as it will go ahead anyway.

It seems we are getting less service for the ever increasing amount of money we have to fork out for every year.

I have my own example regarding fly-tipping and how this council will crack down on it.

It is people who cause the problem, but the council has a duty to see the streets are clean and safe.

Here in our close we have suffered this blight at the rear of our garages for many weeks now.

I reported this to the council on December 21 last year and nothing happened, not even an explanation of why no reply or mention of any intended action with the case note on the website stating ‘closed’.

A further complaint was lodged on their website on January 28 which is now ‘under investigation’ with the 15 working day allotted time now running out this week.

I have also reported the same twice to the local councillor, receiving not even an acknowledgement for my email and photos.

Of course, I have pointed out some of the rubbish includes black bags torn open allowing food waste to be spread around likely causing a health hazard: vermin outbreaks etc, but to no avail.

So alas, we here have to live with this filth for goodness knows how long more and as many of us know, once one spot is blighted it gives the green light to dump even more.

One big mistake the council made was to cancel the free bulk collections some years ago. Now there is a charge of £35, which has not been taken up by many, especially those who cannot afford it on low incomes.

Some of the things the council spends money on seem trivial to me, including cycle lanes and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. How can we have large international events here with many streets an eyesore.

It will be a huge embarrassment unless the council can have a mighty clear-up before 2022 - do we dare hope?

Kevin Grimes, Kingstanding, Birmingham