This week’s news that the NHS has spent £1.6billion on making staff redundant over the past four years is a shocking indictment. What a waste of taxpayers’ money.
To add insult to injury, over the past three years nursing staff in the NHS have had a cost of living pay freeze. The Government’s proposal not to award nursing staff a one per cent pay rise this year just heaps more pain on committed frontline staff.
The Independent Pay Review Body has recommended nurses and healthcare assistants should get a one per cent cost of living pay rise. Just last year, the Government said it was affordable. Now the Government has made a U-turn and said it’s not affordable.
It is worth noting that last year, the NHS underspent by £3billion and that money was handed back to the Treasury. It would have been much better spent on NHS services and staff. The Royal College of Nursing will continue to highlight what an insult this is.
Our nurses, health visitors and healthcare assistants all deserve better.
Karen Webb
Regional director, Royal College of Nursing (Eastern)
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