TUC – government “doesn’t have a serious plan” for fixing the NHS and social care
- Union body says ministers’ plans for a “volunteer army” won’t fix retention and recruitment problems “plaguing” frontline services
- TUC analysis shows that nurses face £1,000 real-terms pay cut this year
Responding to today’s (Wednesday) government proposals for improving access to GPs and bringing down wait times in the NHS and social care, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“This is not a serious plan for bringing down waiting times and improving patient care.
“Rather than calling for a volunteer army, ministers should be focussed on fixing the staffing crisis plaguing the NHS and social care.
“12 years of pay cuts and pay freezes have led to an exodus of experienced and skilled workers.
“If we want the NHS and social care to be fighting fit this winter, and into the future, the government must give workers a decent pay rise now.”
TUC analysis shows that many frontline staff will see their pay packets shrink this year:
- Hospital porters’ real pay will be down by £200 this year
- Maternity care assistants’ real pay will be down by £600 this year
- Nurses’ real pay will be down by over £1,100 this year
- Paramedics’ real pay will be down by over £1,500 this year
7 in 10 social care workers currently earn less than £10 an hour.
