‘Government policy on pay restraint disastrous, unfair and unsustainable says RCM’

By RCM on 04 July 2017 NHS Unions RCM NHS Healthcare Professionals Pay and Agenda For Change

Today (Tuesday July 4th) The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has joined other NHS trade unions to discuss the public sector pay crisis.

The RCM along with many other unions have voiced serious concerns about the Government’s failure to confirm that it will allow the Pay Review Body (PRB) without interference to fully fund the recommendations.

All NHS unions have agreed that another year of pay restraint for midwives and all other healthcare professionals is unfair and will cause lasting damage to the NHS workforce and the patients they care for.

Commenting Jon Skewes, RCM’s Director for Policy, Employment Relations and Communications says; “The RCM is today once again joining with our NHS trade union colleagues to call on the Government to end seven years of pay restraint for not only midwives, but all NHS workers.

“As a result of below-inflation increases for the past seven years midwives have seen their pay drop in value by over £6,000 since 2010; it is unsustainable for this to continue. The RCM has previously warned that this is a disastrous and unsustainable decision for maternity services and the NHS.

“When almost every professional group in the NHS has a shortage of staff, as midwifery does, the Government needs to intervene now to retain much-needed staff before it is too late. The decision by the Government to continue with pay restraint in the NHS is completely reckless given the fact that we remain 3,500 midwives short in England already.

“The introduction of tuition fees for midwives and nurses, coupled with working uncertainty for thousands of European healthcare workers post Brexit, will without doubt further impact on NHS staffing levels right across the UK

“Today the RCM and NHS Trade Unions repeat their offer to the Secretary of state to listen to the PRB’s recommendations and to work collaboratively  with us to address the pay crisis and the hardship faced by not only RCM members, but all hardworking NHS staff."

 

 

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

 

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Notes to editors

 

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.