Health unions are warning that the mounting NHS staffing crisis and long waiting times will become permanent unless the government brings in a game-changing retention package, with an inflation-busting pay rise at its heart.
In evidence to the independent NHS pay review body (NHSPRB), the 14 unions* - representing 1.2 million health staff in England - are calling on ministers to act urgently with a significant wage boost. They say this would help halt the growing exodus of exhausted staff from the NHS.
The unions warn that without a decent pay rise this year, the NHS will continue to lose staff at alarming rates, with patients suffering the consequences most.
The joint submission urges the government to ensure the 2022 pay rise both cushions health workers from soaring living costs and enables the NHS to hold on to, and attract, the staff so essential for its post-Covid recovery.
Unions are concerned the government has yet to produce a submission and will not meet its own deadline of today (January 24) for evidence to the NHS pay review body.
The unions accuse ministers of treating the whole process with contempt. They say if the government does fail to meet today's cut-off date, the pay rise for dedicated porters, nurses, healthcare assistants, midwives, cleaners and other health workers will be further delayed.
The huge number of Omicron-related work absences among health employees in recent weeks has shown the NHS is fragile, say the unions. With 93,000 vacancies across England, and shortages in every specialism, the NHS can ill afford to lose any more staff.
But the union evidence says large numbers of employees have simply had enough. Many are actively seeking alternative employment and others are seriously considering a job move.
As well as an inflation-proofed pay rise, the unions' emergency retention package calls for earnings of the lowest paid workers to be boosted above real living wage rates, and for any extra shifts worked to be rewarded fairly. The unions also want to see limits on excessive hours to prevent burnout.
UNISON Head of Health and Chair of the Joint Health Nnions Sara Gorton says: “Last year government dithering caused health workers to wait months for a measly pay rise. Ministers mustn’t make the same mistake again.
“An above-inflation increase alone isn’t a magic solution to the NHS’ many problems. But a decent wage boost could be just the trick to persuade many burnt-out staff to stay.
“Time is now of the essence. The government needs to pull its finger out and show it’s prepared to act quickly to hold on to experienced health workers, protect the NHS and cut waiting times.
"If direct pay talks with government can deliver a speedier pay outcome, then unions could get around the negotiating table instantly.”
* The 14 NHS unions are: British Association of Occupational Therapists, British Dietetic Association, British Orthoptic Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Podiatry, Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, Prison Officers Association, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite.
