Scrap the cap campaign

The NHS system relies on the dedication and skills of doctors, nurses and staff to attend to the vast number of patients in the UK and it is only through their commitment and specialist knowledge that it succeeds. Therefore, maintaining their morale is crucial to keeping the system in its place.

Delivering a functioning 7-day NHS is a priority and in order to achieve that goal, around 6,500 more nurses are employed now compared to 2010.

Independent pay review bodies, the NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration apply their expertise and objectivity in making recommendations to Government. On 28th march 2017, the Government accepted the Pay review Body's recommendation for a 1 per cent pay increase for all NHS staff in 2017/18, in addition to the incremental pay increases for those staff who are eligible.

You may be aware that the NHS is one of few public sector workforces that receive incremental pay. Around half of staff on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts receive incremental pay of around 3 per cent on average. For example, a typical qualified nurse (Band 5) can expect seven years of pay progression averaging around 3.8 per cent a year, in addition to annual pay awards. This may vary according to circumstances.

To help support the staff in their duty of care, the Government has committed to increase NHS spending in England by £10 billion in real terms by 2020. By cutting bureaucracy and championing higher standards, Ministers have ensured this money goes on frontline care not administration.

The NHS remains the best healthcare system in the world and I can assure you that our government is dedicated into keeping it this way. We are happy to employ the forces of our strong economy into keeping the NHS staff happy and doing the great work they’ve been doing thus far.