Responding to the report, Royal College of Nursing Chief Nurse, Professor Nicola Ranger, said:
"Politicians should see this as an indictment and a source of shame. On the day the government only gave the NHS a passing reference in the King's speech, the UK is being shown up – with our health and care services now being left unaddressed until the next general election.
"The NHS is spending the money but not in the right places, like billions on agencies rather than valuing permanent staff. These figures on salaries show our governments don’t value nursing, relative to other professions and explain why we’ve got record unfilled jobs in our health service. It is little surprise that our colleagues are leaving in droves to find jobs overseas or out of the profession entirely. This is all while underinvestment in social care leaves people without they support they need and piles further pressure on the NHS.
"Patients are paying the highest price for this unsafe system. Nursing staff will not tolerate a status quo of poor pay and their patients not getting the care they deserve. Politicians of every party need to show they have the answers to rise to the challenges facing our health and care service."
Ends
