‘NHS strikes are in nobody’s best interests’
STRIKES by NHS workers are “in nobody’s best interests” as the health service braces for a tough winter, Steve Barclay said.
The Health Secretary yesterday reiterated that union pay demands were simply not affordable in a time of economic turmoil.
It comes as more disgruntled staff planned walkouts.
More than 10,000 ambulance workers voted in favour of industrial action over pay at nine out of the 11 trusts in England and Wales.
And up to 100,000 nurses are set to walk out on December 15 and 20, while 80,000 Unison health workers also voted to strike.
Mr Barclay said: “I’m hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff and deeply regret some will be taking industrial action – which is in nobody’s best interests as we approach a challenging winter.
“Our economic circumstances mean unions’ demands are not affordable. Each additional one per cent pay rise for staff on the Agenda for Change contract would cost around £700million a year.”
Mr Barclay said ministers had followed the recommendations of the independent pay review body by offering NHS staff a rise of at least £1,400, with those on the lowest salaries getting up to 9.3 per cent.
He added: “This is on top of three per cent last year when public sector pay was frozen.”
The Health Secretary’s comments were echoed by Rishi Sunak during Prime Minister’s Questions.
He said: “I have nothing but admiration and gratitude to our nurses for all the work they do. But it is simply unreasonable and unaffordable to have a 19 per cent pay rise.”
The NHS today launches more than 40 “war rooms” to coordinate operations over winter. Each of England’s 42 integrated care systems now has a 24/7 control room to monitor flows of patients in and out of hospitals.
Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS England medical director, said: “We have teams across England working around the clock monitoring and responding to information.
“And insights from frontline services to help spread resources and make the best possible decisions for both staff and patients.”