UNISON today condemned the government's decision to stage the pay rise for NHS staff covered by the pay review body as a "real let down".
The union has also dismissed the increase for nurses, midwives, paramedics and other health professionals as being well below the level of inflation, for the second year in a row.

Accepting the recommendation of the Independent Pay Review Body (PRB), health secretary Patricia Hewitt approved a 2.5% increase for nurses and other healthcare professionals, with 1.5% paid from 1 April and the remainder paid from 1 November. Click here for the full story

Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said: “2.5% is low enough without reducing its value even further by paying it in two stages. That means it is worth a paltry 1.9%, and it is a real let down for Britain’s nurses and other health professionals who really do deserve better. They will be deeply disappointed - for the
second year in a row they are being asked to accept a pay increase well below the level of inflation.
 

“The retail price index is running at 4.2% so this award amounts to nothing more than a pay cut. We are all paying more for our household bills and this increase will be eaten up by inflation... It is ironic that just today nurses have been told their professional registration fees are going up from £43 to £76 a year - a 76%
increase. The Health Care Professions council is set to follow suit for other NHS professionals. Where is the justice in that?
 

“The one bright spot is that the PRB (Pay Review Body) has maintained its independence and not caved into Government pressure for a below 2% increase. It is just a shame that the Government has failed to implement the recommendation in full.”