Health workers to lobby MPs today about pay and NHS funding

Radiographers, midwives, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, hospital porters and cleaners from hospital trusts across England will be heading to Westminster this afternoon (Tuesday) to lobby MPs about pay and the underfunding of the NHS.

The TUC’s All Together for the NHS campaign is concerned that although the economy is growing again, health spending is only likely to increase at around the rate of inflation between now and the end of the decade. This will mean the health service and its staff won’t benefit from the upturn in the UK’s economic fortunes. Instead there are likely to be longer waiting times, a greater rationing of services and a continuing squeeze on the pay of NHS workers.

The health workers will urge MPs to honour the recommendations of the independent NHS pay review body, which suggested that all health service staff in England receive a one per cent cost of living pay rise this year. Health unions are unhappy that ministers have chosen to ignore this advice and are only giving the one per cent increase to NHS workers at the top of their pay scales.

Commenting on behalf of the All Together for the NHS campaign TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Growth may be returning to the economy, but the government continues to deny the NHS the funding increases it so desperately needs to run a health service fit for the 21st century.

“Despite the improving economic situation, ministers still insist on yet more pay restraint across the health service – no wonder NHS employees are so upset.

“It is health workers who are paying the price for the chronic underfunding of the NHS. Morale is plummeting and will make it harder for the NHS to recruit and retain skilled staff. This is bound to affect the quality of care – at a time when patients are already face increased waiting times and a reduction in staffing.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The All Together for the NHS lobby of Parliament takes place between 3 and 5pm this afternoon.
- There are 14 unions in the All Together for the NHS campaign – the BMA, the British Dietetic Association, the British Orthoptic Society Trade Union, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the GMB, the Hospital Consultants’ and Specialists’ Association, Managers in Partnership, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, the Society of Radiographers, the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, UNISON and Unite.
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
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- Congress 2014 will be held at the Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool, from
Sunday 7 September to Wednesday 10 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/media-credentials and completing an online form. Applications must be in by noon on Wednesday 27 August. Any received later than that will be processed in Liverpool and will cost £75.

Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen   T: 020 7467 1248    M: 07778 158175    E: media@tuc.org.uk