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In London in 2023, a nurse stood on a picket line outside University College Hospital, holding a megaphone in one hand and a Royal College of Nursing placard in the other. This nurse, along with other picketers who were holding brightly colored banners, was advocating for better pay for nurses in England. The Royal College of Nursing conducted a survey that revealed 91% of its members did not feel satisfied with the 3.6% pay increase provided by the government this year. The union is not necessarily pushing for a higher pay raise but is urging ministers to reconsider the way the NHS contract is structured, highlighting that many nurses are stuck in lower pay bands that do not align with their expertise.
The potential for strike action looms if the government does not take action to address the concerns of nurses. The RCN is considering running an industrial action ballot in the autumn if necessary changes are not implemented. The government expressed disappointment over the dissatisfaction of nurses with the current pay award but also expressed a willingness to engage in discussions regarding broader reform of the contract. With more than 170,000 survey participants (over half of the eligible membership), the call for reform within the healthcare system appears to be gaining momentum.
In a related development, resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, recently participated in their twelfth walkout as part of an ongoing pay dispute. Despite the collective action, the British Medical Association and the government have agreed to restart talks focusing on improving working conditions rather than negotiating pay. The RCN highlighted a widespread dissatisfaction with the NHS contract, specifically with the Agenda for Change system. Nurses typically start in band five with a base salary of slightly over £31,000, but a significant portion remains stuck in this band, facing challenges in career progression.
The RCN has been advocating for automatic progression to band six after nurses complete an initial preceptorship period, which could potentially address the issue of low pay. While the focus remains on advocating for necessary reform within the healthcare system, the voices of nurses demanding recognition and fair compensation continue to grow louder. The government, acknowledging the discontent among RCN members, emphasized its commitment to engaging in discussions to address concerns such as pay structure reform, career progression, and overall working conditions. While the government stands firm on not revisiting headline pay, it remains open to collaborating with the RCN to address critical issues affecting the nursing profession in England
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