Government rewards public sector workers but Fylde coast nurses say they've been left out

Nurses on the Fylde coast are bitterly unhappy that the Government did not include them and other NHS workers in the latest public sector pay rises.
Cancer nurse David Collett says the latest public sector pay rises have snubbed nursesCancer nurse David Collett says the latest public sector pay rises have snubbed nurses
Cancer nurse David Collett says the latest public sector pay rises have snubbed nurses

Around 900,000 of 4.4 million workers will be given a pay rise, including doctors, teachers and police officers, but nurses and binmen have not been included this time.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak says the salary boost, announced on Tuesday, is recognition for the contributions public sector workers made during the coronavirus pandemic.

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But the omittance of nurses, especially after many were on the frontline of the fight to contain the virus, has been slammed by health staff, MP Cat Smith and unions.

The Government argues that nurses, auxiliary health workers and NHS managers received no extra increase because they are already benefiting from a three-year pay deal, under which the starting pay for a newly qualified nurse has increased by over 12 per cent since 2017/18.

But there have been calls for the Government to recognise their efforts this year by bringing forward the next pay discussions, so they can get an effective pay rise now.

David Collett, 30, of Bispham, who works as an advanced clinical practitioner in the oncology department of Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said: "I think it's insulting that because we were given a pay rise two years ago we haven't been included this time.

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"No one could see Covid-19 coming and nurses were asked to rise to that challenge.

"The profession did meet that challenge, we had professionals coming out of retirement to join the fight against Covid-19, we had nurses leaving their families to join the frontline of the pandemic and we had nurses literally giving their lives for it.

"The Government was happy enough to ask people to clap for us and we even had ministers clapping on the steps of Downing Street.

"But when we ask for our pay to be reviewed, the answer is no.

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"It is our job to care for people who are sick and we are happy to do it, but it seems like no one cares for the nurses."

However, Mr Sunak says the Government has taken the steps most needed to reward public sector workers.

He said: 'These past months have underlined what we always knew - that our public sector workers make a vital contribution to our country and that we can rely on them when we need them.

"It's right therefore that we follow the recommendations of the independent pay bodies with this set of real-terms pay rises."

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But Ms Smith, the Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said: "Making nurses wait until next year to be considered for a new pay rise is not acceptable - nursing staff deserve a fair pay rise now.

"Nurses, midwives and other NHS staff on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay contract will not receive a boost, because they are still in the time span of a previously agreed three-year pay deal, which will end in March 2021.

"However, quite rightly, In the wake of the pandemic, unions including the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives and Unison have asked the government to bring forward the next round of AfC pay negotiations.

"I agree with the unions when they say nurses should receive a “meaningful early pay rise” that represents their value and makes up for the loss of income caused by previous pay freezes and caps.

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"Nursing staff have appreciated the great support they’ve had from the public – they’d now like the same support from government.

"In this year, of all years, it is time to value these professionals and show them we care as much for them as they do for us."

Armed Forces - 2%

• Doctors & Dentists - 2.8%

• Judiciary - 2%

• National Crime Agency - 2.5%

• Police Officers - 2.5%

• Prison Officers - 2.5%

• School Teachers - 3.1%

• Senior Civil Servants - 2%

• Senior Military - 2%

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