Axe nurses 1% pay cap, May urged

HEALTH unions are urging Theresa May to remove a one per cent cap on NHS pay amid claims it is hitting staff recruitment and standards of care.

Fifteen unions, including the Royal College of Nursing and Unite, have written to Mrs May urging her to have a “change direction” on pay in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.

It has been capped at one per cent or less since 2010.

Unions say nurses are £3,000 worse off.

The letter says: “People are delivering care to the best of their ability but we are very worried care is becoming unsafe. Our services are struggling to make do without the staff they need.

“NHS workers should be fairly rewarded.”

Unison boss Dave Prentis said: “The time has come to undo the damage.”

A poll of RCN members showed massive support for strike action unless the pay cap was removed.