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Nurses are working the equivalent of one day a week for free, research says | UK News


Nurses are working for free the equivalent of one day a week, according to a new study.

Researchers from Economics London have been commissioned by the Royal College of Nurses to look at pay in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland since 2010.

They found that an experienced nurse’s salary fell by 20% in real terms, based on a five-day week.

Experienced nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will need a 45 percent nominal wage increase in 2024-25 just to pay their salaries back to what they were in real terms between 2010-11, the study said. rescue said.

And such a pay rise would actually save the NHS money in the long run, as it would be cheaper than hiring staff from abroad, according to the study.

Dr Gavan Conlon, who oversaw the study, said bringing in staff from abroad costs around £16,900 more annually than retaining a nurse, while employing agency staff costs extra. around £21,300 per year.

He says around 32,000 nurses leave the NHS every year – many because wages are not keeping up with the rapidly increasing cost of living.

Meanwhile, the RCN is voting for its 300,000 members for strike action, calling for better pay and a government effort to fill hundreds of thousands of nursing positions around the country.

Read more:
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There are also strike ballots underway or scheduled for midwives and other NHS staff such as porters, paramedics and cleaners.

RCN Secretary General Pat Cullen said: “This exploitation of nurses cannot be tolerated anymore.

“During the pandemic, politicians urged the public to clap in support of caregivers, but now they are deliberately ignoring the incredible efforts and expertise of nurses.

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RCN director Pat Cullen accuses government of ‘not getting involved’ with nurses

“Ministers have staunchly resisted demands to address the workforce crisis, including paying nurses fairly, instead denying any opportunity for action.

“They took advantage of the goodwill and consistency of the nurses to act in the interests of the patients.

“Our members have had enough.

“It is completely unacceptable to expect nursing staff to work one day a week for free.

“Patients deserve better from their politicians.

“Despite nursing staff working increasingly long hours and doing all they can, safe and effective care is being undermined by the failure of governments to act.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We greatly appreciate the contribution of our hard-working nurses, which is why we are giving more than a million NHS workers a salary increase of at least £1,400 this year.

“NHS staff also got a 3 per cent pay rise last year, raising the average nurse’s pay to £1,000, despite the public sector pay freeze.”

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