Steve Barclay, secretary of state for health, has hinted that health employees may receive a larger pay increase in April provided they agree to “efficiencies” in the NHS.
Mr. Barclay stated in the Sunday Telegraph that he remained “willing to engage” with striking unions over how the government can “help the workforce.”
The NHS has experienced massive strikes over this year’s salary offer.
According to union officials, ministers must act to resolve the current issue, and this month’s strikes will continue.
Meanwhile, Andrew Gwynne, the shadow health minister, stated that a decade of underfunding by Conservative governments has strained the NHS.
It comes a day after health leaders met with the government to discuss the NHS’s issues. Which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deemed “very helpful.”
Mr. Barclay has invited health unions to a meeting on Monday to discuss pay for 2023-24, beginning in April. In his opinion piece for The Telegraph, he argued that “we should be moving forward. And having constructive conversations about what is affordable this coming year, rather than going back retrospectively.”
Saturday, however, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Pat Cullen stated that the salary increase nurses would receive in 2022-23 was “essential” to the current issue.
Hints about wage raise for unions
This year, NHS employees in England and Wales, including nurses, have received an average pay raise of 4.75 percent. But they are requesting an increase to keep up with inflation, which is now running at over 10 percent.
This week, ambulance workers will strike again, followed by nurses later in the month. In addition, junior physicians in England will vote on strike action beginning on Monday.
Mr. Barclay, who was reappointed as health secretary by Mr. Sunak in October following a brief stint earlier in the year, acknowledged that the recent strikes had hampered the health service, resulting in the rescheduling of over 30,000 appointments.
While those who continued to work did a tremendous job – ably supported by our military. We know that the quality of care patients got diminished as a result,” he said.
Mr. Barclay acknowledged difficulties in the health care
In addition, he described the government’s plans to adopt new legislation to secure minimum staffing levels in emergency services as “pragmatic” and comparable to moves done in France and Germany.
However, he also suggested there was room for negotiation with the unions. Stating that he was eager to engage in discussions to see if a compromise could be reached on any improved salary offer.
He highlighted a recent visit to one of the 42 new NHS system control centers, which employ real-time hospital data. And digital notifications to reduce the average unoccupied bedtime from three to one hour.
When NHS trusts can identify and broadly implement “productivity and efficiency opportunities.” The government will be able to “afford” to fund updated pay offers for employees, he said.
Mr. Barclay acknowledged difficulties in the health care. And stated he will announce on Monday to “better the flow through our hospitals.”
He stated, “This is the kind of job we’re determined to continue doing, fixing people’s problems. And moving the country ahead, rather than being trapped in a rut with the unions.”
