The Department of Health and Social Care’s submission to the NHS Pay Review Body shows that it is unwilling to address the causes of the workforce crisis, the RCN has said.
The evidence signals a pay award for Agenda for Change staff between 2 and 3% for 2022-23. In the document, the government claims lower pay awards would allow the health service to recruit more staff.
Read more: Calls to end migrant maternity charge over safety fears
‘This document shows the UK government is not serious about tackling the nursing workforce crisis, retaining expert and experienced nursing staff or making patient care safer,’ said RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen.
‘Our members will see this as a deliberate attempt to pitch nurses against patients. Politicians need to move beyond this false choice between paying staff fairly and safer staffing levels – one is key to the other.’
The Pay Review Body is responsible for advising the government on pay for NHS staff and takes evidence from trade unions, employers and governments to inform its recommendations.
Read more: End to COVID-19 restrictions in England announced
The governments covering the health service in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have asked the PRB to recommend what pay increase NHS staff in those countries should receive for 2022-23. The RCN has submitted its evidence and will be making this publicly available shortly.
‘“The elephant in the room seems to be the spiralling cost of living. By not acknowledging it, they are signalling to staff that their pay will just fall even further behind inflation,’ added Ms Cullen.
‘The government must show staff they are valued and send a message to the public that patient safety is a top priority. This deeply unambitious starting point for the next pay round will not help the much-needed recovery of services.’