'an insult of the highest order': government fails to announce nhs pay offer | nursing times

The government has been condemned for failing to make an announcement today on the pay rise it will be offering to NHS staff in England, which is already delayed by three months. It was

anticipated that care minister Helen Whately was going to use her statement about the NHS in the House of Commons this afternoon to put forward an Agenda for Change pay deal for 2021-22.

> “Once again we find this government has had to row back on a > shoddy, ill-thought through position" >  > Rosena Allin-Khan However, she sidestepped the subject and

instead spoke about “some of the support” the government had given to the NHS during the pandemic. In her response, Labour’s shadow health minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan described the ongoing

delay as an “insult of the highest order”. She claimed that the NHS Pay Review Body, which makes recommendations to the government on NHS pay, had rejected ministers’ controversial proposal

to only grant a pay rise of 1%. Government officials were debating a new proposal shortly before Ms Whately’s statement was made in parliament, but failed to come to a conclusion, suggested

Dr Allin-Khan. Rosena Allin-Khan “Once again we find this government has had to row back on a shoddy, ill-thought through position, with their 1% pay rise – a real-terms pay cut – rejected

by the independent pay body,” she added. “So, what did the government do? Nothing. “Less than an hour ago, there were competing briefings on what the deal was going to be, but it turned out

to be nothing.” Dr Allin-Khan, who is an A&E doctor by background, said NHS staff “deserve better” from the government, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“They've worked incredibly hard throughout this pandemic. The personal sacrifice is astounding. Their hard work never stops,” she said. Ms Whately replied by claiming that the

government was still “seriously considering” the recommendations of the pay review body and would be “responding as soon as we possibly can”. NHS nurses on Agenda for Change contracts were

initially due to have their pay reviewed in March this year, when the previous three-year pay deal expired. But in December 2020, then health and social care secretary Matt Hancock announced

the process had been “unfortunately delayed”. Mr Hancock asked the NHS Pay Review Body to make its recommendations by early May 2021, but the final report was not submitted to the

government until late June. > “Just as NHS staff thought ministers were at last to announce the > pay rise they’ve more than earned, hopes have been cruelly dashed" >  > 

Christina McAnea Nurses and their unions have been awaiting an offer since, and there were concerns that ministers would leave for their summer recess tomorrow without making an

announcement. However, unconfirmed reports have been circulating across the wider media that an offer was coming early this week and that it would be in the region of 3%. Conversely, the

Royal College of Nursing has been campaigning for a 12.5% increase, while Unison has been calling for an across-the-board boost of £2,000 for all NHS staff. Commenting on the further delays,

RCN interim general secretary and chief executive, Pat Cullen, said: “This treatment of our NHS workers is shameful. “Ministers are holding them in contempt and we have no choice but to

condemn this behaviour.” Pat Cullen She urged the government to “stop the wrangling and come clean about the pay rise they believe NHS staff deserve”. “Nursing staff will only accept this

pay award if it’s significant, consolidated and fully funded with additional monies,” added Ms Cullen. Meanwhile, Unison’s general secretary Christina McAnea accused the government of

behaving “disgracefully towards NHS staff” and said the delay was “unacceptable and could backfire badly”. “Just as NHS staff thought ministers were at last to announce the pay rise they’ve

more than earned, hopes have been cruelly dashed,” she said. “The government has led health workers a merry dance. Ministers should hang their heads in shame and get a much-needed grip.”

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