Responding to rising inflation rates announced by the Office of National Statistics today, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:
"Inflation reaching a 40 year high is yet another reason that nursing staff are in dire need of a pay rise.
"Following over a decade of real-terms pay cuts, nursing – that makes up over half of NHS staff - are financially propping up our health and care services.
"They are overworked and under pressure, alongside being underpaid. And this puts patients at risk.
"A pay rise that goes significantly above inflation is crucial to the recruitment and retention of skilled nursing staff."
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Notes to Editors
ONS statistics released today show the inflation rate for May 2022 rose to 9.1%
The RCN called for a 5% above inflation pay rise for nursing staff in its submission to the Pay Review Body earlier this year. The NHS pay award for 2022/2023 has yet to be announced.
