Responding to government proposals to reward NHS bosses with performance bonuses, Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis, said:

“Attracting talent to the NHS is important, but no NHS boss could succeed without us. We are the largest workforce in the health service and deliver the vast majority of care for patients. 

“Talk of bonuses for hospital chiefs higher than a nurse’s annual salary will leave a sour taste in the mouths of nursing staff. We are still waiting for a pay award that should have arrived six weeks ago.

“Bonuses for the top while cutting nurse numbers is reckless and offensive. This culture was bad for finance and it is not the answer for the NHS.

“Despite the vital nature of our work, ministers are once again putting nursing at the back of the queue, with too few staff and poor pay. They cannot keep us waiting forever for the significant pay rise we need and deserve.”

ENDS