New figures reveal there are over 1300 nurses and health visitors employed in our district facing a real terms pay cut thanks to the Conservatives.

Last week it was revealed that the Conservatives are offering nurses just a 1% pay rise – below expected inflation of 1.5%, and therefore a real terms cut – even after a year in which nurses have fought on the frontline against the Coronavirus pandemic. Many nurses have said the proposal would see them take home just £3.50 extra per week. Yet in the last year, Ministers have found money for:

• A 40% pay rise for Dominic Cummings
• £37bn on a track and trace with extremely mixed results, and
• £2bn in crony contracts for their friends and donors.

Covering our district, there are over 1300 nurses and health visitors working in Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG facing a real terms pay cut.

Publishing the data, a Labour spokesperson said,

“This government might clap for carers when the cameras are rolling, but behind the scenes they are slashing their pay. That’s a sickening betrayal and a real slap in the face. 

“Nurses in our district have been the heroes of the last year – they have worked tirelessly, risked their lives and cared for our loved ones whilst the rest of us rely on them to beat back this terrible disease. It is simply unbelievable that the Conservatives are rewarding them with a pay cut.

“This is the government that gave a massive 40% pay rise to Dominic Cummings, has wasted billions on a track and trace system that hasn’t worked properly, and found £2bn for crony contracts for their mates, yet when it comes to nurses they won’t even protect their pay. This government has shown that isn’t just incompetent – they have the wrong priorities for this country.”   

ENDS

Background

The Conservatives have announced a 1% rise – a real terms cut – for nurses:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56313199

The latest NHS workforce figures reveal there are over 1300 nurses covering Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG.

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/november-2020

Spreadsheet attached. 

Dominic Cumming received a 40% payrise in 2020

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55322985

Government is now planning to spent at least £37bn on test and trace

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/test-and-trace-spending-ps37bn-budget-small-print_uk_60412920c5b601179ec35d4a

The Conservatives have given more than £2bn in Coronavirus contracts to friends and donors

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-labour-calls-for-government-to-crack-down-on-the-cronyism-over-2bn-coronavirus-contracts-12212275