Nursing Pay Award is disappointing, says Royal College of Nursing
Responding to the Written Statement from the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care that Agenda for Change staff will receive a pay increase of 3.3%, RCN Wales Executive Director, Helen Whyley, said:
“A 3.3% pay award is very disappointing and shows a failure to grasp the reality facing nursing staff in Wales. At a time when the cost of living remains high another real term pay cut is being imposed again on a workforce already stretched to its limits.”
“The Welsh government has made a commitment to pay restoration back to 2008, and this award falls well short of that pledge and of what is needed to value and retain staff.”
“It is particularly indefensible that the government have once again fallen back on the Pay Review Body (PRB) process that unions widely rejected after raising expectations for direct negotiations. Nursing staff were led to believe a different approach was coming. Instead, they have been handed more of the same.“
“The Welsh government must also match the career progression measures announced for NHS nursing staff in England yesterday. Our members in Wales will not accept being left behind. If progress can be delivered for staff across the border, it can and be delivered here.”
“Morale is already fragile and staff feel consistently undervalued. Fair pay and clear career pathways are essential to keeping experienced professionals in the NHS and attracting the next generation.”
We will now review this award against the rest of the NHS staff pay and across the public sector before deciding our next steps.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK, including around 35,000 members in Wales. The RCN promotes the interests of nursing and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape health care policy.
For more information, contact the RCN Wales communications and media team on 02920 680 769 or mediawales@rcn.org.uk
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