← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
NHS Pay
24 March 2021
Lead MP
Paula Barker
Liverpool Wavertree
Lab
Responding Minister
Helen Whately
Tags
NHSTaxationEmployment
Word Count: 14140
Other Contributors: 16
At a Glance
Paula Barker raised concerns about nhs pay in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the Government to provide a significant pay rise for NHS workers as they deserve recognition and fair compensation for their contributions during the pandemic. A 10% increase in pay would cost £3.4 billion but would result in net expenditure of only £660 million when considering various offsets. The Government should provide a substantial, well-earned pay rise for healthcare staff that recognises their efforts and sets the NHS on a confident footing for future challenges.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the decline in NHS workers' pay and morale since 2010. Nurses' pay has dropped by £840 in real terms, with total pay at band five falling by 15%. There are nearly 50,000 combined vacancies across doctor and nursing professions, indicating severe staff shortages. Workers have endured rising demands and less reward due to previous Conservative decisions. The healthcare heroes on the frontline of the pandemic have received a miserable 1% pay rise that amounts to a real-terms cut. This will barely cover regulators' registration fees or parking charges and is insulting for their tireless efforts. Over 39% of nurses are forced to skip meals to feed their families, while many NHS workers struggle with poverty pay and rely on payday loans. The north-west alone has more than 5,000 nursing vacancies expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Alex Sobel reflected on the Government's handling of the pandemic, criticising early decisions and highlighting staffing shortages in the NHS. He emphasised that praising NHS workers without addressing pay issues is manipulative and cruel.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
The Government's proposed 1% pay rise is both wrong and unpopular, leading to real-terms cuts. Band 2 healthcare assistants are often underpaid for performing band 3 tasks due to cost-cutting measures. Over 98% of healthcare assistants in one NHS trust are employed on band 2 compared to a regional average of only 55%. The public overwhelmingly supports better pay rises for NHS staff.
Warrington North
The hon. Member for Warrington North speaks about the sacrifices made by NHS staff, including two nurses who died during the pandemic. She emphasizes that many workers are living in precarious conditions to protect their families from covid and struggling financially. The member argues that a real-terms pay cut is economically illiterate as it would reduce spending power in local communities.
David Linden
SNP
Glasgow East
Mr Linden thanked NHS staff across Scotland and the UK for their hard work during the pandemic, highlighting vaccination numbers of 2,214,672 first doses administered in Scotland. He criticised the UK Government's proposed financial recognition as insufficient and called on them to exempt a £500 bonus payment from income tax and national insurance for all NHS staff in Scotland. The Minister is setting out the bleak fiscal picture for the Government and the tough financial choices that have to be made. Will she explain, then, why they have seen fit to invest in more nuclear warheads but not in pay for NHS staff?
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Paying tribute to NHS staff at St Thomas' Hospital, Florence Eshalomi highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare workers during the pandemic. She criticised the 1% pay rise as inadequate given inflation rates and urged recognition of their sacrifices.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
The speaker shared personal experiences and highlighted the importance of ensuring NHS staff are well-prepared for future pandemics. He argued that if pay does not meet expectations, it could lead to a demoralisation among staff and an increase in early retirements. Mr Stone briefly intervened asking Mr Linden for clarification or further discussion on an issue.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The petitions indicate strong support across the United Kingdom for fair NHS pay, with families and recipients of NHS services also expressing their views. There is a moral obligation to deliver a satisfactory pay increase for nurses.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Emphasized the strain on NHS staff due to high vacancies, pressure from the pandemic, and mental health issues. Cited statistics such as 100,000 vacancies before the pandemic, over 450,000 hospitalised with coronavirus, half of NHS staff reporting work-related stress, and a significant increase in resignations since 2010. The Minister is setting out the pay review process, but it is also the case that she voted for a 2.1% pay increase only last year. Why has that changed?
Kate Osborne
Lab
Jarrow and Gateshead East
The proposed 1% pay rise for NHS staff is unacceptable, considering the hard work they have done during the pandemic. There are currently an estimated 100,000 vacancies in the NHS, making a significant pay rise crucial to recruitment and retention of existing staff.
Lyn Brown
Lab
West Ham
The speaker expressed gratitude towards NHS staff for their dedication during the pandemic, highlighting that before the pandemic, NHS staff were working an extra 1.1 million hours of unpaid overtime. The speaker mentioned that almost 60% of nurses experienced mental health issues due to the first wave of the virus and over 300,000 people waited more than a year for hospital treatment in January.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
The hon. Member for Stockport expresses deep concern over the Government's decision to award NHS staff a 1% pay rise, which amounts to £223 million annually. He highlights that this paltry increase is dwarfed by the funding allocated for nuclear warheads and Test and Trace. The member points out that nearly half of Unison members are the main breadwinners in their families and that 52% of NHS workers are considering leaving due to worsening conditions and pay.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
NHS workers need a pay rise due to repeated real-terms pay cuts over the past decade, which has led to recruitment and retention issues. Pay rates for nurses are uncompetitive internationally, with Australian nurses being paid double that of UK nurses. The cost of a 12.5% pay rise is only £0.82 billion according to London Economics.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
NHS staff have faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic, with many breaking down due to stress and heavy workloads. TUC research shows that if a 1% pay increase goes through for 2021-22, nurses' pay will be £2,500 less than in 2010 when adjusted for inflation. There are more than 36,000 nursing vacancies and experienced staff face a sustained real-term pay cut over the past decade.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Healthcare workers need recognition, pay, and protections. The pay proposal is a disgrace, and there are hidden costs for overseas healthcare workers who have to pay the immigration health surcharge to use the system they work in.
Taiwo Owatemi
Lab
Coventry North West
As a former NHS worker and current member of the Health and Social Care Committee, she expressed strong support for NHS workers deserving better than the real-terms pay cut proposed. She mentioned that at least 230 NHS workers have lost their lives to COVID while serving others and noted the impact on local high streets if NHS workers receive a proper pay rise.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
She criticised the government for allocating significant funds to military and private contractors while offering NHS workers only a £3.50 per week increase, which is a real pay cut when inflation is considered. She highlighted that nearly 1,000 health and social care staff have died from the virus, with many others suffering from PTSD and severe depression due to the pandemic.
Government Response
Helen Whately
Government Response
Welcomed the debate on NHS pay, acknowledged sacrifices made by staff during the pandemic, discussed investments in pay and personal protective equipment (PPE), highlighted a salary increase for nurses of over 12% since last year. Mentioned the multi-year 'Agenda for Change' deal for NHS staff and an upcoming decision from independent pay review bodies on pay scales for 2021-22. Stressed that the Government's anticipation is for a headline pay award of 1%, considering budget constraints due to the pandemic. Provided figures on increased recruitment of doctors, nurses, and support workers compared to last year, noting decreases in vacancies. Emphasized the importance of staff feeling supported and valued in their work.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.