Government criticised by nursing body over pay policies

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has expressed its disappointment with the government's latest ruling on salary levels for NHS nurses.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has announced that the coalition intends to adopt the same approach to NHS pay in 2015-16 as it took this year – meaning most nurses will get no cost of living pay increase next year.

The RCN pointed out that nurses have not had a cost of living increase for five years, despite an upward inflationary trend, workforce cuts, a rising number of patients and the impact of disruptive NHS reforms.

It argued that a wage improvement would be an affordable measure, accusing the government of wasting money on an unnecessary reorganisation of the health service and ignoring the recommendations of the independent pay review body.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: "Continuing to deny the majority of nursing staff a fair pay rise will only perpetuate and exacerbate these issues, which is bad for the profession, for the health service and ultimately Britain."

The royal college has also called on nurses to write to their local MPs to make their dissatisfaction with the current arrangements known.