Thank you for contacting me about NHS pay.
I believe that the passion, commitment, and specialist knowledge of our NHS staff is part of what makes our NHS so special. I recognise that staff morale is vital to maintaining staff commitment to services.
I fully support the Government’s mission to make the NHS the safest, highest quality healthcare system in the world. There are over 14,000 more doctors and over 13,000 more nurses on our wards since 2010.
How we value and retain our staff is critical, and I very happy to say that a new deal will see a 6.5 per cent pay rise for over one million NHS workers over three years. This will benefit not just nurses, but all staff on the Agenda for Change pay scale. The Government has set aside £800 million to support the deal for 2018/19. The Government’s long term funding settlement for the NHS, which will provide increased funding of £20.5 billion per year in real terms by 2023/24, will fund the pay rise over the remaining two years.
The Department of Health has engaged in productive discussions with NHS trades unions, NHS Employers, and the Treasury to best establish how to increase productivity in the NHS, as it is vital that any increases in investment in the NHS represent value for money for taxpayers, and contribute to a more efficient NHS, in a time of ongoing pressure on public finances.
I am proud the NHS has once again been rated the best healthcare system in the world, something that is only possible thanks to the dedication and hard work of all NHS staff, supported by a strong economy.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
April 2019