Labour redoubles calls for a fair NHS pay rise as figures show 300,000 staff worked unpaid overtime during Covid crisis

Jonathan Ashworth has redoubled Labour’s efforts to secure a fair pay rise for NHS workers after figures revealed an increase in the number of NHS staff working unpaid overtime during the Covid crisis.

The latest figures from the NHS staff survey reveal over 300,000 staff worked unpaid hours in the past year. Almost 13,000 more staff reported working overtime compared to 2019, suggesting over a million hours of unpaid overtime were worked during the pandemic.

Labour leader Keir Starmer launched Labour’s campaign for the May elections last week, declaring “a vote for Labour is a vote to support our nurses.”

Under the Government’s current pay proposals, nurses and other NHS staff who were promised at least a 2.1% pay rise will instead see a real terms pay cut of hundreds of pounds. This follows a real terms pay cut of more than £2,300 in the average salary of a nurse and health visitor under the Conservatives since 2010.

The survey also reveals that less than one third of nurses and midwives are satisfied with their current pay levels, suggesting widespread opposition among NHS staff to the Government’s current proposals.

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“The whole country saw the heroism of our nurses and NHS staff during this pandemic. And the whole country is watching as this injustice continues. Our NHS staff deserve a fair pay rise.

“Whether you live in London or Lancashire, you can send a message to the Conservatives in May that a pay cut for our NHS heroes is an insult. A vote for Labour is a vote to support our nurses.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Latest figures from the NHS staff survey show an increase in the number of NHS staff working unpaid hours in the past year. The proportion of staff satisfied with current pay levels has dropped since 2019, and staff who have worked on a Covid ward are more likely to be unsatisfied with current pay levels.

• The figures are a national average of results from the following types of NHS trust: acute and acute & community, acute specialist, mental health and learning development, mental health, learning development & community, community, and ambulance.

Staff working unpaid overtime

Source: https://www.nhsstaffsurveyresults.com > National Results > National Breakdowns – Questions

Pay satisfaction

Source: https://www.nhsstaffsurveyresults.com > National Results > National Breakdowns – Questions

Pay Satisfaction by whether or not had worked on a Covid ward

Source: https://www.nhsstaffsurveyresults.com > National Results > National Breakdowns – Questions

• Previous figures show the number of additional hours of unpaid overtime in 2019 was 1.1 million. A breakdown of additional hours has not yet been published, but is expected that given the increase in staff working extra hours, the figure for 2020 is likely to be even higher.

• Average annual basic pay of nurses and health visitors for the 12 month period to September 2010 was £29,746. In the 12 month period to September 2020 was £33,788. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-staff-earnings-estimates/september-2020-provisional-statistics

• Taking into account inflation, that means a pay cut of £2,379.

• Labour revealed that NHS staff would be hundreds of pounds worse off next year under the Government’s recommendations. Labour’s figures show that, under a one per cent pay increase, the basic starting salary of a Band 5 nurse is £174 a year less in real terms, rising to £680 for more experienced staff. https://labour.org.uk/press/labour-reveals-thousands-of-nhs-heroes-will-be-hundreds-of-pounds-worse-off-next-year-under-government-recommendations/

• The Unite union has warned that “lack of a decent NHS pay rise will lead to a staff exodus and waiting list crisis.” https://unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2021/march/lack-of-decent-nhs-pay-rise-will-lead-to-staff-exodus-and-waiting-list-crisis-warns-unite/

• A poll by Savanta Comres revealed that 83 per cent of the public, and 78 percent of Conservative voters, think the Government should increase its one per cent pay offer. https://comresglobal.com/polls/38-degrees-nhs-pay-rise-poll-march-2021/