Grant NHS staff a wage rise by Christmas, say unions

Health unions representing more than 1.3 million workers across the UK have written to the Prime Minister calling for a pay rise for all NHS staff before Christmas.

The letter to Boris Johnson from all 14 health unions warns the second virus wave is already placing hospitals under immense strain, with staff left ‘stressed, burned out and fearful’.

NHS workers are not due a pay rise until April 2021, but the health unions say an early increase would help employees ‘feel valued, by the entire country, and the government too’, and also likely persuade staff looking to leave the NHS to change their minds.

Sara Gorton, UNISON head of health, said: “The NHS can’t run without its staff. They all deserve better from porters to nurses. Their dedication during the pandemic has been humbling. But no one is superhuman and many are feeling the strain. Boris Johnson must show he has a heart with a pay rise before Christmas. It will boost exhausted staff going into the second wave and help the NHS attract much-needed new recruits.”

Hannah Reed from the RCN said: “NHS staff have been underpaid for years and there has never been a more critical time for the government to address this. Paying staff fairly will show they’re valued and begin to turn the corner on the record nursing and wider vacancy levels. The NHS is facing an extremely challenging few months due to the combination of Covid-19 and winter pressures. Without urgent action on pay, vacancies across the NHS will continue to increase.”