Doctors and nurses condemn health service pay rise of 1pc

NHS staff face “another year of financial hardship”, unions warned last night after the Government announced that most health service workers will receive a one per cent pay rise.

The increase – less than half the current inflation rate of 2.7 per cent – means staff are effectively having their pay cut following two years of pay freezes, unions said.

About 60 per cent of NHS employees will receive a one per cent rise, the Government announced. GPs will get 1.3 per cent more to cover their pay and costs of running their practices.

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Royal College of Nursing general secretary Peter Carter said: “The reality of increasing living costs mean we are seeing higher numbers of our members in debt and unable to meet mortgage payments. In order to deliver the best quality care, the NHS must properly invest in its workforce and nursing staff must be properly rewarded for the challenging but vital work they do.”

British Medical Association chairman Mark Porter said: “The net increase of one per cent, which is below inflation, will be very disappointing to doctors – especially after real terms pay cuts for many years – and will do little to improve morale.”

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter said that pay restraint was “essential” across the public sector. He said many NHS staff could also receive performance-related pay increases averaging 3.5 per cent, with some doctors and nurses earning between three and eight per cent more.

NHS Employers said the increase would put “unnecessary” financial pressure on the health service.

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Chief executive Dean Royles said: “We gave compelling evidence to the pay review bodies on pay levels, staff turnover and improvements in job satisfaction, arguing that a pay increase this year wasn’t necessary and would add additional cost pressures to NHS trusts in what we know will be an extremely challenging year.”