Agenda for Change: NHS Pay Restraint Debate
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Lord Spellar
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Agenda for Change: NHS Pay Restraint
Lord Spellar Excerpts(7 years, 9 months ago)
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Catherine McKinnell
I very much share the right hon. Gentleman’s concerns. He anticipates some of the points that I would really like to get across.
My view of the importance of those who work in our NHS is shared not only by Opposition Members. The Department of Health stated in its response to the e-petition:
“Agenda for Change staff are vital. They work incredibly hard for patients and deserve to be fairly rewarded. We are committed to ensuring trusts can afford to employ the staff the NHS needs.
NHS staff are our greatest asset. Despite the pressures on the NHS driven by an increasingly aged and frail population, nurses, and all our hard working NHS staff continue to put patients first, keeping them safe whilst providing the high quality care patients and their families expect.”
How have we found ourselves in a situation in which hard-working, dedicated, exhausted nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals are genuinely struggling to make ends meet?
Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)
Are we not in danger of getting into a downward spiral? Staff feel stretched, undervalued and underpaid, and many are looking to move abroad, or possibly even into other professions— I have had emails to that effect. Many are also going to agencies, and we know how much money agencies make. That costs extra, especially at a time when the retail prices index is moving inexorably up as a result of currency effects.
Catherine McKinnell
My right hon. Friend puts his point very succinctly and absolutely correctly.