The decision to extend the pay cap for another year is totally self-defeating and unsustainable – Justin Madders

Justin
Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the annual NHS pay
announcement, said:

“The decision to extend the pay cap for
another year is totally self-defeating and unsustainable. By squeezing pay for
years on end the Government is driving an NHS workforce crisis, forcing people
out of health professions and putting others off starting in the first place.
Hospitals are already forced to pay huge sums for temporary staff to plug the
gaps and there is still no sign
of how the Government plan to deal with the NHS workforce implications of
Brexit.

“The
NHS Pay Review Body say the Government’s pay policy is “under stress” and make
clear the pay cap cannot last in the longer term. The Review Body say that
workforce issues are “being neglected” nationally and that there is a
“piecemeal and short-term” approach to pay. It is clear that the Government’s
mismanagement of NHS workforce strategy has reached its limit.

“It’s
time that the NHS pay cap was lifted so that the nursing staff, paramedics,
midwives and other key workers who care for us when we need it most are paid at
a level which recognises the skill and dedication which they bring to their
jobs.”