Let me start by echoing the praise for our frontline NHS staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic, in very difficult circumstances, to save lives and help us in our fight against the virus.
I would like to see them receive a larger pay rise, but unfortunately, the government cannot ignore the consequences of the pandemic on our public finances and have to take into consideration of our country’s economic position.
I believe the Government have given as much of a pay rise as can be afforded at the present time, but I hope that will increase this as soon as it is possible to do.
You also need to know that in the rest of the public sector, all but the lowest earners have had a pay freeze and this 1% pay rise is above the rate of inflation.
The pandemic has also had a damaging impact on jobs and wages across the country. Many people have been living on 80% of their wages while on furlough for the past year and unemployment predicted to rise into the millions over the coming months.
Private sector workers are also facing cuts to their wages, or risk losing their job altogether.
Whilst I too want to see the NHS staff a bigger pay rise, the Government do not believe that this would be possible at this time, without being forced to make cuts in other areas of the NHS.
We should also not forget that over one million NHS staff also continue to benefit from multi-year pay deals agreed with trade unions, including a pay rise of over 12% for newly qualified nurses, with the average nurse pay now £34,000 per year and that junior doctors' pay has been increased by 8.2 per cent. This means that many NHS staff will be receiving more than the proposed 1% pay rise.
I know that the Government is committed to supporting the NHS workforce through a range of different measures, on top of increasing wages above inflation.
This includes £513m in professional development and increased recruitment, £30m on staff mental health support including wellbeing hubs and occupational health support and the new bursary programme giving at least £5,000 each year to new nursing, midwifery and Allied Health professional students.
I hope that as our economy re-opens and the finances of our nation return to a more healthy position, we will be able to give a further pay rise to our NHS staff and I look forward to supporting that.
