Trade unions issue call for NHS pay rise

The UK government has been urged to implement a pay rise for NHS workers by a group of leading trade unions.

A total of 14 unions – including Unison and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – have written to chancellor Philip Hammond calling for a 3.9 per cent pay increase for NHS staff, plus an additional consolidated lump sum of 800 pounds.

These figures have been calculated to bring NHS pay rates up to a level that account for rising inflation in recent years, with the lump sum designed to compensate for lost pay resulting from the cap on public sector pay rises that has been in place since 2012.

The unions also stipulated this increase should be fully funded without any new cuts to services or jobs to pay for it, as it remains essential to alleviate the current nursing shortage and workload pressures in order to help make care safe and effective.

Janet Davies, the RCN's chief executive and general secretary, said: "When the next pay review body process begins, the government must allow it to be truly independent and able to recommend a meaningful increase that helps hardworking staff with the cost of living."

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