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'Enough is enough' says RCN General Secretary as NHS nursing vacancies in England at record high
As the RCN gears up to ballot its members on strike action, official NHS data reveals a 21% increase in unfilled nursing posts.
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NHS data out today (1 September) shows there were 46,828 registered nurse vacancies in the NHS in England between April and June 2022, up from 38,814 over the same period last year.
RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: "Two weeks before we open our strike ballot, these stark figures reveal what’s happening in England's NHS – record numbers of unfilled nurse jobs and rising fast too. Ten of thousands of experienced nurses left last year at the very moment we cannot afford to lose a single professional, and patients pay a heavy price.”
To tackle the workforce crisis, we’re campaigning for an NHS pay rise of 5% above inflation but governments have offered far less. We’re balloting members and asking them to vote in favour of strike action.
The ballot opens on 15 September and closes on 13 October and is being launched in response to this year’s NHS pay award in England and Wales, and the NHS pay offer in Scotland. Nursing staff in Northern Ireland have yet to receive a formal pay offer for 2022/23 due to the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.
"Nursing staff are burnt out and simply not valued by their employers and government,” said Pat.
“Ministers choosing to hold their pay well below inflation in a cost of living crisis is making more reconsider their future. Rather than leave a fantastic profession, I’m telling members the time has come to vote for strike action this year – it is the best way to now get politicians to listen and show what we mean when we say 'enough is enough'.
"The new prime minister must act fast to give nursing staff a fair pay award as part of addressing the all-engulfing NHS crisis."
All members are eligible to vote in the ballot if they work for NHS and HSC employers on an Agenda for Change contract in the UK.
Make sure your details are up to date so you can vote.
RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: "Two weeks before we open our strike ballot, these stark figures reveal what’s happening in England's NHS – record numbers of unfilled nurse jobs and rising fast too. Ten of thousands of experienced nurses left last year at the very moment we cannot afford to lose a single professional, and patients pay a heavy price.”
To tackle the workforce crisis, we’re campaigning for an NHS pay rise of 5% above inflation but governments have offered far less. We’re balloting members and asking them to vote in favour of strike action.
The ballot opens on 15 September and closes on 13 October and is being launched in response to this year’s NHS pay award in England and Wales, and the NHS pay offer in Scotland. Nursing staff in Northern Ireland have yet to receive a formal pay offer for 2022/23 due to the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.
"Nursing staff are burnt out and simply not valued by their employers and government,” said Pat.
“Ministers choosing to hold their pay well below inflation in a cost of living crisis is making more reconsider their future. Rather than leave a fantastic profession, I’m telling members the time has come to vote for strike action this year – it is the best way to now get politicians to listen and show what we mean when we say 'enough is enough'.
"The new prime minister must act fast to give nursing staff a fair pay award as part of addressing the all-engulfing NHS crisis."
All members are eligible to vote in the ballot if they work for NHS and HSC employers on an Agenda for Change contract in the UK.
Make sure your details are up to date so you can vote.
