The Royal College of Nursing has today written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care raising concerns about the government’s ‘divisive approach to public sector pay’ and calling it both ‘cavalier and reckless at a time of the greatest industrial unrest the NHS has ever seen.’
The letter says the decision by the Prime Minister and Chancellor on public sector pay means that nursing staff, and all those on NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions in England, have received the lowest pay rise in respect of 2023/24 amongst public sector workers.
In the letter, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, writes: “This highlights the long-term disparity, pay erosion and disadvantage of the nursing profession, and is, frankly, unjust.
“Why does nursing deserve the least? Particularly, given nursing is one of the most diverse and female-dominated professions within the public sector. The government has very clearly signalled it does not recognise or value their public service in the NHS compared with other professions.
“The government’s continued failure to value the nursing profession is seriously harming morale and risking the collective effort to rebuild our NHS.”
The letter says that pay, terms and conditions remain an important issue for nursing staff to recognise and reward their knowledge, skills and experience to ensure better retention and help attract more people into the profession.
The RCN General Secretary finishes by writing:
“You have once again disrespected nursing staff delivering essential services. The NHS and social care system is on its knees.
“You are haemorrhaging staff and recruitment into education is woefully reduced with UCAS figures demonstrating more than a 16% downturn in applications for nursing courses. International recruitment is a sticking plaster and is totally unsustainable. How much longer can the system withstand these challenges?
“Secretary of State, you have seen and heard the anger of nurses who stood on picket lines across the country. Our strike action may have ended for now, but the half a million plus members I represent, and the patients they dedicate their professional lives to, deserve so much better than this. You and the government have a responsibility to act now.”
Ends
The full letter is available here.
