THE UK Government has come under attack for failing to announce an expected pay rise for NHS staff in England.
Unions representing NHS workers had been set to react to confirmation of a 3% increase following months of delay.
But Health Minister Helen Whately made no mention of pay during her initial speech to the House of Commons today.
The Government was already under attack for recommending a 1% pay rise despite the incredible pressure NHS staff have been under because of the pandemic.
Shadow health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan criticised the minister for failing to announce a pay rise, saying the Government’s reaction to a recommendation from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) had “turned out to be nothing”.
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Unions expressed anger and dismay at the lack of a decision on pay after stepping up their campaigns in recent weeks for the overdue increase to be paid.
Rachel Harrison, national officer of the GMB, said: “This is completely outrageous – virtually the last day of Parliament and the Government has insulted hard-working NHS workers once again by staying silent.
“NHS workers who tuned in to watch the minister today will be rightly disgusted by this lack of respect
“NHS staff have put themselves in harm’s way throughout the pandemic and, as a health union, we cannot accept MPs swanning off on holiday leaving health workers in limbo.
“GMB has today written to the Prime Minister and Health Secretary to demand they intervene and set out their response on NHS pay before the summer recess.”
Speaking after Whately, SNP MP Martyn Day contrasted NHS pay with that of NHS staff in Scotland.
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He said: “(I) was surprised that it didn’t cover the subject of NHS pay which had been well trailed in advance.
“I would have hoped that the UK Government would match the 4% the Scottish Government has offered to NHS workers backdated to December 2020, and the Scottish Government has also secured agreement for a real living wage for social care staff at £9.50 an hour and underwritten the promise with £64.5 million support.
“Why is it that this UK Government is unable to match the Scottish Government’s commitments to giving the NHS and social care staff the pay they deserve and need?”
Whately said: “Of course pay is a devolved matter.
“We are reviewing the recommendations from the pay review bodies and will be making an announcement for pay in England in due course.”
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