NHS workers have been offered a paltry 3% pay rise by the Tories which will soon be less than half the rate of inflation.
The Government’s submission to the NHS Pay Review Body came as inflation is expected to rise from 5.5% in January to almost 8% in April.
Unions have labelled the 2022/23 proposal for England “a wage cut in all but name” amid the worst staffing crisis in NHS history with around 100,000 vacancies.
UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “This tight-fisted proposal falls well short of rising costs and staff hopes.
“It’s barely half the rate of inflation, which is far from peaking and won’t for many more months.
“This will go down like a lead balloon with health workers struggling to fill up at the pump, buy groceries and pay bills. It would be a wage cut in all but name.
“Nurses, healthcare assistants, hospital porters and others have borne a heavy responsibility during the pandemic.
“Now Government expects the NHS team to work miracles with the Covid backlog, despite the growing staffing void.
“The Government’s told private firms struggling to recruit to pay premium wages. But ministers aren’t prepared to do the same for the NHS.
“Holding down health worker wages won’t stop the inflation spiral. But it would mean floods of NHS staff quitting for less stressful, more lucrative jobs.
CPI inflation has increased for the last 13 months in a row to its highest point in almost 30 years.
Household energy bills will soar by hundreds of pounds in the next few months increasing inflation still further.
NHS England’s day-to-day budget was given a rise of 3.8% for the next three years, part funded by a £23.3 billion National Insurance hike.
This annual rise is just short of the 4% average annual increase the NHS has had since its foundation after the Second World War, to keep pace with a growing population and new technologies.
The Government’s submission to the NHS Pay Review Body stated: “The NHS budget has now been set until 2024-25.
“While this gives the NHS the financial security to address challenges in a sustainable manner, the settlement is tight and there will be a need for careful prioritisation to stay within available funding and make progress towards long-term financial sustainability.”
The latest pay offer comes after a decade of pay settlements well below inflation under the Tories.
Sara Gorton added: “Staff feel so dispirited, many already have one foot out the door. This substandard amount will convince many it’s time to part company with the NHS.
“The Chancellor and the Prime Minister must do far better and come up with enough cash for a proper wage rise that stems the staffing flight and ensures safe, quality care for patients.”
