Inflation busting pay rise needed to avert staff crisis, says Union survey

A survey of NHS staff has revealed that four out of five NHS health workers would quit the NHS over widespread concerns about their pay.

The survey, conducted during March-April 2022 with 2,239 responses, was run by the #WithNHSStaff campaign, which represents 13 NHS health unions including the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), UNISON, Unite, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the GMB.

The majority of respondents said the main reasons they are considering leaving the NHS was because their pay was not keeping up with inflation, the increasing cost of driving for work and hospital parking charges meant they have no other choice.

The survey revealed that one in five staff (22%) are now either actively looking or already in the process of leaving the NHS for better-paid jobs. Of those considering leaving, 79 per cent say an inflation-busting pay rise would persuade them to stay.

Nearly two-thirds of staff (64%) said they felt utterly undervalued by the government or their employer.

RCM’s Director for Employment Relations Alice Sorby said:

“We have all warned the Government that the NHS staff recruitment and retention crisis cannot be solved without a game changing retention package and an inflation- busting pay rise. Without this the NHS will continue to lose staff at alarming rates. Staff have had enough, and they are now a breaking point, it’s within the Government gift to turn this worsening situation around by paying all NHS staff what they are worth.”

UNISON Head of Health Sara Gorton said:

“NHS staffing is in crisis and services are suffering. Without a significant pay rise, under-pressure health workers won’t stick around. That’ll make delays and cancellations a whole lot worse.

“Ministers must find the cash to invest in an urgent retention package, starting with a pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis. That’s the way to ensure patients get the treatment they need.”