Should nurses be paid what they demand?

I DON’T wish to judge the merit of nursing union demands, but the numbers don’t seem to stack up. The unions claim nurses are leaving in droves for better-paid jobs in bars and restaurants. But with the average nursing salary about £34,000 and an average hourly wage in bars of about £9, they would have to work 73 hours a week to even compete. They would also lose the generous NHS pension entitlement, which would typically be replaced by an employer contribution of 3 per cent rather than 20 per cent.

Perhaps we could afford to meet current inflationary pay demands if public-sector workers agreed to move to the much more affordable private-sector model.

JOHN beCKeTT, Crondall, Hants. WHAT a shame we nurses don’t have the support of the Mail’s Dr Martin Scurr in our strikes. I used to enjoy his column; now I feel I’ve been betrayed by a friend.

He doesn’t want to see nurses’ pay increased as he feels patients will suffer, so he is trying to guilt-trip us into sitting back and accepting our tiny rises yet again.

We’ve had enough. Nurses’ pay has fallen in real terms to the extent that some are taking second jobs and using food banks. We are tired of being left behind teachers and police in the salary scales, especially when we have lives in our hands. I’ve been at the top of my grade (5) for many years and my salary is £32,000. The profession needs a decent salary to halt the exodus of nurses and entice others into nursing. This will be in patients’ favour, as wards are now woefully understaffed. And cancer care and other critical areas will not be affected. That is just scaremongering.

We’ve been a pushover for too long.

CHerYL FeLIX, Marton, Lincs.