Responding to the health and social care secretary setting out key priorities ahead of this winter, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:
“The storm engulfing the NHS is one of staffing shortages. Soaring numbers of people quitting and unfilled jobs is because staff are neither valued nor treated fairly.
“Paying nursing staff fairly is part of his solution to that problem. They have seen their wages drop by 20%. Our members have voted for strike action because of the impact the crisis is having on patient safety. None of us can afford to go on like this.
“The Chancellor must use tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) statement wisely to invest in the NHS, patient care and those who give it.”
Ends
