Commenting on the announcement of NHS pay increases, Richard Murray, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said:
‘When NHS budgets were last set, they were built on the expectation that most staff would get a 3 per cent pay increase. Today, the government has set that increase at a significantly higher level, but at the same time told NHS leaders that they need to make up the difference from existing budgets. The NHS has previously said that every additional 1 per cent in the pay settlement would equate to £800 million–1.2 billion that needs to be cut from planned NHS spending. It will inevitably have an impact on the health service’s ability to meet patients’ needs and makes it even harder to see how the NHS will be able to meet government targets to bring down waiting lists. If the government wants the NHS to fund this pay rise from existing budgets, then government should also be clear with the public that NHS services will be cut as a result.
‘While the pay uplift announced today is more than in previous years, and even with staff on lower pay grades getting a bigger boost, the majority of staff will be getting a below-inflation rise and that will leave many with a real-terms pay cut. The vast majority of health and care staff are motivated by more than just pay, but there comes a point where low pay combined with high workload will push some to leave the health service, and the NHS can ill-afford to lose any more staff.’
Notes to editors
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The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.
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