Health pay

Health staff: worth every penny and more

UNISON believes that Health staff are worth every penny and more and has warned the government not to skimp on the NHS wages bill next year.

The warning, issued alongside 13 other health-service unions, came as the union presented its evidence in support of a pay rise to the independent pay review body.

Together, the unions are calling for a substantial, above-inflation pay award for NHS staff next year, backed by the biggest ever survey of NHS staff.

The evidence points to a spiralling cost of living and deteriorating morale, with more than half of health workers being sick of their jobs - 60% have considered leaving the health service in the past year.