Nurses
are demanding the Government to use some of the billions of pounds it has
earmarked for NHS modernisation to fund pay rises.
The
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) hinted that strike action could be an option if
some of the money raised by the Budget is not used to increase pay.
Dr
Beverly Malone, general secretary of the RCN, told the Telegraph she wants to
see a bumper investment in nursing andÂ
money is what the profession needs most.
Malone
said last year’s pay increase was inadequate as the 3.9 per cent hike only
improved the typical nurses salary by around £9 a week.
She
said retention, rather than recruitment, is the key to future NHS success.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday