Commenting on the announcement by the chancellor today (Monday) that the government is to accept the pay review body recommendation of a 5.5% wage rise for all NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts in England for 2024/25, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This is a government thankfully prepared to act quite differently from its predecessors.
“The NHS cannot begin to turn around its fortunes and eliminate delays unless it keeps the staff it has, and is an attractive career destination for potential recruits too. Pay and investment in the workforce is key to all that.
“This year’s wage increase is already more than a quarter of a year late. NHS staff will be pleased ministers haven’t made them wait any longer.
“An above inflation rise was the right thing to do after many years of NHS wages lagging behind increasing prices. Though health workers will look at what they’re getting and compare it with the deal agreed for junior doctors.
“This year’s pay rise cannot be a one-off. It’ll take much more than this boost to get the NHS into a better place.
“Patients are treated by one team in the NHS and everyone’s contribution is crucial and must be fairly valued, whether they’re doctors, cleaners, nurses, ambulance workers, porters or hospital admissions teams. The health and success of the NHS depends on each and every one of them.
“The public knows that without sufficient staff, the NHS won’t be able to deliver when they or their families need its care.
“Modernising the salary bands across the NHS so wages better reflect the increasingly complex jobs staff do has also been accepted by ministers as a priority. The resources for this will need to be found.
“Fully funding the wage rises for teachers and health workers is essential if under-pressure school and hospital budgets are to be spared. Teaching assistants, caretakers, cleaners and other school workers will be pleased ministers have brought the school support staff negotiating body back to life, and will be hopeful fairer pay is soon on the cards for them too.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON’s lead committee for NHS workers will meet later this week to assess the outcome and decide next steps.
– 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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
The article Latest pay rise must just be the start of turning NHS fortunes around first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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