Commenting on the Department of Health and Social Care’s submission today (Tuesday) to the NHS pay review body recommending a maximum pay rise of 3.5% in 2023/4 for health workers in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“If the government was actively trying to worsen the crisis in the NHS, it couldn’t have done better than this.
“Vacancies are at an all-time high and this pitiful pay suggestion does nothing to solve the growing staffing emergency. The Scottish government has already offered significantly more to its NHS workers.
“Worse still it could prove the final straw for staff already questioning their future in the NHS. If more leave, the outlook for patient care is beyond grim.
“Pay talks with all health unions representing striking NHS workers must happen now. Meeting with one union alone will do nothing to solve the dispute. Ministers need to start behaving like grown-ups and up their game substantially.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article Pay proposal will worsen the NHS dispute first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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