NHS Staff Pay
Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent(6 years, 1 month ago)
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Ruth Smeeth (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)
My healthcare economy was held together over the winter solely by the good will of NHS workers, yet they have had a 14% pay cut in real terms since 2010. This announcement is a drop in the ocean. How does the Secretary of State think that it will help retention rates?
Mr Hunt
I cannot agree that this is a drop in the ocean. If the hon. Lady does not want to hear it from me, let me point out what was said by the Unison head of health, Sara Gorton, who is also the head negotiator for the NHS unions. She said that the deal
“would go a long way towards making dedicated health staff feel more valued, lift flagging morale, and help turn the tide on employers’ staffing problems.”
That is not a drop in the ocean.