SHADOW Health Secretary Jon Ashworth pledged yesterday that a future Labour government would ditch the Tory 1% pay cap for NHS staff and restore bursaries for student nurses and midwives.
Speaking at the Unison Health Conference in Liverpool, Ashworth also said Labour would ‘outlaw’ low staffing shortages that have become a ‘threat to patients’. Ashworth’s pledge was welcomed by the health unions.
Jon Skewes, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: ‘These are very welcome commitments from the Labour Party. They recognise the effort, determination and commitment on the part of our hardworking midwives and other NHS staff to deliver the safest and best possible care for those using the NHS. This announcement also shows recognition of the folly and short-sightedness of scrapping bursaries for student midwives, nurses and related professions.’
Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: ‘The NHS is one of the best health services in the world, but with record waiting times, staff shortages and lack of funding it is clear that the public know all too well that the health service is under ever greater pressure and has reached breaking point. NHS staff will be encouraged by this understanding of the damaging impact on their morale from the years of real terms pay cuts and ongoing pay restraint that have led to vacant posts, understaffing and rota gaps.’
Janet Davies, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: ‘For too long, nursing staff have been undervalued and underpaid. The results can be seen in the spiralling number of vacant jobs, collapsing morale and services that are struggling to cope. A health service that works for patients must value its staff.
‘We have long-campaigned to scrap the 1 per cent pay cap but nurses’ pay packets have been cut by 14 per cent in real-terms and so more must be done to help them catch up.’
