BROMSGROVE members of campaign group Nurses United UK say they will be heading to the officer of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid today when he holds his latest advice surgery.
The group say they want Mr Javid to listen to nurses in his constituency about issues affecting their jobs and the three per cent pay offer it has recently criticised.
On Saturday the group held a demonstration outside the Bromsgrove MP’s constituency office and said they were disappointed he did not meet with them.
The group labelled the three per cent pay rise ‘disastrous’ and said their protest was being held prior to the consultative trade union ballots in England which could potentially lead to nurses taking industrial action for the first time in a generation.
Anthony Johnson, registered nurse and lead organiser, added: “What a surprise that Sajid Javid, whose party is funded by the private healthcare lobby, couldn’t be bothered to turn up to meet nurses, some of who were his own constituents.
“We all know nurses need a restorative pay rise to keep our patients safe.
“Members of the public understand this and supported us at every turn.”
Nurses United UK argues its members have lost – on average – 20 per cent of their pay in real terms since 2010 which has led to 45,000 nursing vacancies in England alone,
The initial pay rise offered by the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was one per cent but then a review – taking into account a range of evidence – was carried out by the independent NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB).
The NHSPRB recommended the rise be increased to three per cent for nurses and other staff, from doctors and paramedics to porters.
Mr Javid and the Government accepted that recommendation which will see many nurses receive an extra £1,000 per year.
Mr Javid said: “The NHS staff are rightly receiving a pay rise this year despite the wider public sector pay pause, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.
“We will back the NHS as we focus our efforts on getting through this pandemic and tackling the backlog of other health problems that has built up.
“I will continue to do everything I can to support all those in our health service who are working so tirelessly to care for patients.”
