Nurses being hit ‘left, right and centre’ as pay freeze starts

Published: 21 March 2011

Freezing pay, reducing pensions and cutting jobs mean nurses are being hit ‘left, right and centre’, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said today. Dr Carter was responding to the publication of the 25th report of the NHS Pay Review Body. He said:

“Nurses and health care assistants were not the source of the economic crisis but they have been pragmatic in coming to terms with the precarious state of the nation’s finances. However, with this two-year freeze coming at the same time as proposed changes to pensions and widespread cuts to jobs and services, they are now feeling like they’re being hit left, right, and centre. Nurses continue to be one of the lowest paid professional groups in the public sector and a two-year pay freeze coming at the same time as the cost of living continues to go up, means that many families may end up struggling through the coming years.

“The Government will need to work extremely hard to sustain the morale of nurses, many of whom are working under extreme pressure, day in, day out, to deliver care for patients.”

Ends

Notes to editors

1.For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations