After mounting pressure from the RCN, the public, other trade unions and MPs, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced in the House of Commons on 10 October that the pay cap will be scrapped.
A letter from RCN Chair of Council Michael Brown was also submitted to Downing Street. In it Michael acknowledged this “positive first step”, but said the next pay award for nursing staff must be above inflation and not funded from existing NHS budgets.
He added: “The time has come to stop relying on the goodwill of staff to keep the NHS afloat. The pay gap must be closed.
"Please act swiftly to help bring talented nursing staff into the NHS and show those who already work in it that what they do is truly valued by you and your Government.”
Pay champions Michael Coram, Kayleigh Peel, Jane Leighton, Julie Lamberth and Jean Richards handed in the petition after spending the summer alongside RCN members from across the UK promoting the Scrap the Cap campaign, distributing campaign materials and organising events.
RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Janet Davies said: “This petition shows huge levels of public support for nurses, who work so hard to provide care for patients in the midst of a staffing crisis and increasing pressures in the NHS.”