Hancock claims one per cent rise does not amount to NHS pay cut
A PROPOSED one per cent pay rise for NHS staff is not a realterms cut, the Health Secretary has said.
Matt Hancock told a committee of MPs that NHS workers had been “carved out” of the pay freeze across the rest of the public sector due to the pressure on public funds. Giving evidence to the Health Select Committee, he said that because inflation is below one per cent, the proposed hike is an increase.
When asked why it was one per cent when the NHS 10-year plan made a 2.1 per cent provision for annual pay increases for NHS workers, he said: “The NHS was carved out of the pay freeze that has been applied due to the enormous pressure on the public finances – that has been applied to everyone else in the public sector.
“We put in place evidence reflecting what is affordable and we of course will study what the
pay review body says.” Pressed on whether it was a pay increase or a real-terms pay cut, Mr Hancock added: “Inflation is below one per cent and therefore a proposed one per cent pay rise is indeed a pay rise, and that’s simply a matter of fact.”
But a Royal College of Nursing spokesman said: “The Government is digging in despite public anger and clear support for NHS staff. In the middle of a pandemic, ministers cannot justify giving just £3.50 extra per week to nursing staff.”
The Government has faced a furious outcry after calling for a headline increase of just 1% in its submission to the NHS pay review body. Ministers have argued that it was all that could be afforded following the massive hit to the public finances caused by the pandemic at a time when most public sector workers were facing a pay freeze.
Mr Hancock also told the committee that the operational cost of the pandemic for the NHS will be covered by the Government.
When asked by the Health Select Committee about the extra £7 billion the NHS needs for Covid-related costs, Mr Hancock said working out the cost of the pandemic for the NHS was complicated. But he said the issue will be resolved soon, and added: “We have been clear we will find the Covid costs.”