The Prime Minister was told by an elderly patient to "try harder" on nurses' pay during a hospital visit. Catherine Poole, 77, took the opportunity to speak out on the issue as Rishi Sunak visited her ward at Croydon University Hospital.
Mr Sunak asked the south Londoner, who is recovering from surgery, how the nurses were looking after her. "You need to pay them," Ms Poole instructed the Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak, wearing a mask as he toured the hospital, said his Government was trying. "You are not trying, you need to try harder," she told him.
Mr Sunak went on to say that the NHS was important. "Yes, and look after it," Ms Poole told him.
The exchange came as thousands of nurses around the country are being balloted on possible strike action as healthcare workers call for a pay rise amid soaring inflation. Mr Sunak dodged a question about nurses' pay when pushed by broadcasters following the exchange.
Asked if he was happy that nurses are not getting a real-term increase in pay, he said: "It is brilliant to be here at Croydon Hospital, to see the great work of the doctors and nurses here.
"One of the priorities for my Government is going to be tackling the Covid backlogs and supporting the NHS. We face lots of challenges as a country, but I am confident that we can fix the economy and deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto, including having a stronger NHS."
The NHS could also be in line for a further tightening of budgets, as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt eyes ways to fill a multi-billion pound fiscal black hole.
