We are facing the most difficult time for over 30 years

Worse still, the government have said that employers must pay this award from existing monies, taking money from patient services already struggling. It’s a disgrace to place that at the feet of an already-struggling workforce.

This downward drive of nursing pay will place even more of our members into poverty, at a time when you are undertaking demanding highly skilled, pressurised and stressful work. It is another real-terms pay cut, one that follows year on year of pay freezes and below inflation pay awards.

NHS employers are setting up food banks on site, not for patients but for staff. Also, uniform exchanges for families who are struggling to meet the needs of their children. This is nothing short of disgraceful and is wholly unacceptable for one of the richest economies in the world. This shows the lack of value our government place on the very workforce who nursed the nation through the worst pandemic in generations and who are now working to tackle the backlog while being chronically understaffed.

There is a 10% vacancy rate across nursing in England; it is estimated that we need a further 50,0000 nurses and midwives to meet the health needs of the population. Yet despite the government having no credible workforce plan they are proposing an additional 2,700 beds to meet ‘winter’ pressures. Who will staff them? Even ‘virtual beds’ need staff to monitor patients.

The answer is an already-overstretched workforce. A workforce that is at breaking point. This depressing picture is mirrored outside of the NHS, across the health landscape. Pay is not equal to value and there are not enough nursing staff, and other health professionals, to meet the health needs of the country.  Unsafe staffing puts everyone at risk, staff and patients.

The time is right to act now. We cannot continue on this downward spiral and our voice must be heard. 

I urge you to follow the lead of our Scottish colleagues and vote for action in the September ballot. Now is the time to draw a line in the sand. Now is the time to make our voice heard. Now is the time to stand up for ourselves, our profession, our services, and our patients.

If not now, then when? We can’t allow the situation to get worse.

If you have an NHS contract you will receive your ballot papers through the post after 13 September.  We are calling on you to:

• Update your details – Go to My RCN and please check that your postal address, email, employer and job title are up to date. 
• Get informed – attend RCN meetings, read the pay campaign webpages and ask questions. RCN staff and reps are here to help, and the RCN Industrial Action Handbook sets out everything you need to know.
• Vote – Only RCN members can decide on whether to take action or not. Have your say and post your ballot papers to make a difference. 

Thank you all.

Geoffrey Walker