Thousands sign petition urging rethink on NHS pay cap

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition urging the government to scrap a pay cap which limits staff to a rise of just 1% each year.

The government announced in March this year that it would cap pay increases at a maximum of 1% a year between now and the next general election in 2020. 

Petition signatures

Now a petition set up by campaigning community nurse Danielle Tiplady has gathered more than 10,000 signatures since its launch on 3 October.

It comes as health unions have called on the NHS Pay Review Body (RB) to recommend a meaningful pay rise for NHS workers for the 2017/18 pay round.

NHS Staff Side, made up of representatives from 13 unions including the RCN, last week submitted evidence to the RB, which advises the government on NHS staff pay.

Decline in staff

Ms Tiplady, who has previously campaigned over plans to scrap bursaries for nursing students in England from 2017, told Nursing Standard: ‘Every day sees the effects of the pay restraint on my colleagues.

‘Some work extra shifts, seeking out hardship funds and using credit simply to get through each day and put a meal on their table.

‘As a consequence NHS staff are leaving in their droves. Combine the pay restraint and the slashing of the bursary, it makes me worry immensely about the future of patient care.

‘Who will be there to care for us all when we need it the most? The government must end the pay restraint now, or risk the future of the NHS forever.’

The RCN has called on the RB to recommend removing the 1%-a-year pay award restriction, and to support the pay claim of NHS Staff Side, including:

• A return to a UK-wide pay scale using Scotland as a reference point.
• A restructuring of bands 1-3 to pay the living wage and maintain pay differentials.
• A pay award in line with the retail price index applied equally to all Agenda for Change staff.

In a letter to the RB in August, health secretary Jeremy Hunt signalled that pay restraint is set to continue for the 2017/2018 pay award, calling it a ‘crucial’ part of government plans to control public finances.

The government must respond to the petition, titled demand an end to the pay restraint imposed on agenda for change NHS staff, if it reaches 10,000 signatures.

It it gains 100,000, it will be considered for a full debate in Parliament.

Further information

Demand an end to the pay restraint imposed on agenda for change NHS staff