Petition demanding bigger NHS wage rise

A CAMPAIGN has been launched urging the government to increase it’s ‘pitiful’ one per cent pay rise offer for NHS workers.

The drive has been launched by Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, who branded the one per cent wage increase as the ‘ultimate kick in the teeth’ for health workers.

The Labour politician’s petition comes as health workers in the city vented their fury over the ‘embarrassing’ deal.

Mr Morgan, Labour's shadow armed forces minister, said: ‘On multiple occasions ministers have said that NHS staff should receive the pay they deserve, regularly describing healthcare workers as “heroes”. Yet the words of the health secretary have not matched this government’s deeds.

‘This is an opportunity for Portsmouth people to tell Ministers loud and clear, our city’s NHS staff deserve a fair pay rise.’

Conservative backbencher Sir Roger Gale told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I think the way that this has been presented and handled has been inept. I know, that over a period of three years nurses have had a considerable pay increase, but that is not what I think the public wants in terms of recognition of a wholly exceptional situation.’

Health minister Nadine Dorries has since opened the door to possibly increasing the proposed salary award after having previously claimed it was all the government could afford. The petition can be found at: stephenmorgan.org. uk/our-nhs-heroes-deserve-apay-rise/