Posted 18 March 2016 - 14:44
Posted 18 March 2016 - 14:44
News
NHS Wales staff to get 1% pay rise
Welsh Government sticks to 1% pay increase for NHS staff in line with other UK countries.
The Welsh Government today (March 18) announced that it is following the rest of the UK in agreeing to a 1% pay rise for NHS nurses.
In addition 7,000 of the lowest paid NHS Wales staff will receive a backdated pay rise as an uplift to the living wage from £7.85 to £8.25 applied from January 1, announced health and social services minister Mark Drakeford.
Mr Drakeford said: 'We have accepted in full the recommendations from the independent pay review bodies – this is in line with the offers made elsewhere in the UK.'
The increase, together with the living wage uplift, will cost the NHS an estimated £40 million a year.
The RCN and other health unions have already expressed disappointment at the level of the award. RCN general secretary Jane Davies said earlier this month: ‘Restraining pay while demand increases and there is a continuing staff shortage is a false economy.’