Since being elected as MP, Stephen Morgan has been standing up for public sector workers calling to scrap the cap, and pay those who serve our communities properly and fairly.
Responding to the Royal College of Nursing’s new campaign the Portsmouth South representative said:
“As an RCN champion I obviously support calls for the Government to make an immediate commitment to pay talks and to recognise and reward all NHS workers with a guarantee of a decent pay rise.
Health and care workers have been at the heart of the fight against coronavirus, working day and night to protect the NHS and save lives. They do so much to make our health service one to be proud of and they deserve our respect, admiration and full support.
Despite the brilliant efforts of staff, I am concerned that a decade of pay restraint and a lack of investment in the workforce has resulted in more than 100,000 vacancies across the health service, which includes more than 43,000 nurse vacancies.
In July, NHS England published its People Plan for 2020/21 which sets out actions to grow the workforce. While the plan contains some worthy commitments on staff wellbeing, I am concerned that without additional funding staff will continue to be overstretched and overworked. The Government had promised a full five-year People Plan with detailed, costed action. I believe this plan falls way short of that.
Ministers have said that decisions on pay for nursing staff are not due to be reviewed until 2021 when the current pay deal ends. However, I believe it is important to show our NHS staff the same commitment they have shown our country during the coronavirus emergency.
The pandemic has shown just how valuable and loved NHS nurses are. Ahead of the next Spending Review, I believe the Government must commit to the pay talks that NHS workers deserve, and put together a proper solution for recruitment and retention.
As we know, valuing our NHS workforce through fair pay and conditions is crucial to tackling vacancies. I firmly believe that any new deal for nurses and wider NHS staff must be agreed as soon as possible, in recognition of their bravery and the sacrifices they have made during the pandemic”.
The city MP has vowed to continue to put pressure on Ministers to act on pay and bring certainty to those who serve our city’s communities in the nursing profession.
