Union blasts Minister over his claim NHS pay cap has ended
A UNION has slammed Jeremy Hunt for refusing to rule out slashing services to pay for potential wage rises.
The Health Secretary declared yesterday that the 1% NHS pay cap was over but added that “latitude” given to him by the Treasury would be linked to “productivity improvements we will negotiate at the same time”.
Kevin Brandstatter, of the GMB union, said: “If there is no new money then it’s a con trick to claim that the pay cap has ended. Without new funding ‘productivity improvements’ just looks like code for cuts to jobs and services.” Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said: “It looks like hospitals will be forced to cut services to find the funds.” Health service boss Simon Stevens told MPs that without extra cash it will be “hard for the NHS to do what is asked of it”.