Tory snub for hero nurses’ pay demand
NHS workers’ walkout threat
THE Tories are risking strikes by carers by considering NHS pay rises of just 3% to 4%.
Hero nurses are seeking a 14% increase, 5% above current inflation, and junior doctors want 22% or they may strike in the winter.
If Health Secretary Sajid Javid follows NHS Pay Review Body advice and imposes a 3% rise that would mean nurses’ pay falls £1,600 in real terms, says the TUC.
The British Medical Association estimates doctors have suffered a real-term pay cut of 30% since 2008. And Dr Emma Runswick told the BMA conference: “Pay restoration is the right, just and moral thing to do.
“But I’m not foolish, I know that it’s likely that industrial action will be required. It is outrageous that our pay has been cut by 30%.
“It is outrageous that doctors today are unable to afford mortgages and are delaying starting families due to falling pay.”
The NHS has about 100,000 staff vacancies but the precise figure is unknown as the Tories have rejected a bid for an independent assessment.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chairman, said nearly half of doctors suffer depression, anxiety or burnout. He said: “You can’t run an NHS by exploiting a well of goodwill which has totally run dry. Doctors will and are walking away.” UNISON’s Sara Gorton said: “Anything less than inflation would be a pay cut in all but name.”
Care staff in Bristol and Lancashire and South Cumbria have voted to strike. Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “We’re carrying an £83billion debt interest payment this year ... we can’t tolerate wildly excessive public sector pay claims.”