A Tory minister has come under fire for being too busy to meet NHS staff to discuss their concerns about plans for a measly 1% pay rise.
Health Minister Helen Whately told MPs in March that pay was ‘”rarely mentioned” when she spoke to health workers, despite a major outcry over the proposals.
“I have asked any times what would help, what do staff most want,” she told a Westminster Hall debate.
“I will say from those conversations that pay is rarely mentioned.”
The GMB union invited her to speak to their members over the 1% pay rise, which they describe as a real terms pay cut.
(Image: PA)
But her office replied to say she was “getting many requests for her time” and was unable to attend.
GMB National Office Rachel Harrison said it was “frankly disgusting” that she was too busy to speak to workers.
She said: “The Minister has already shown how out of touch she is in thinking NHS staff aren’t worried about pay.
“But we gave her the benefit of the doubt and invited her to actually come and speak to health workers so she could hear first-hand.
“For her to now say she is too busy to speak to the workers she is supposed to be responsible for is frankly disgusting.
“How can you pretend to support NHS workers when you won’t even take the time to talk to them and hear their concerns?”
Ambulance workers, cleaners, porters, catering staff, midwives and nurses have “risked their lives” during the pandemic and feel “let down by this pay betrayal”, she said.
Boris Johnson has come under pressure to increase the offer of a 1% pay boost for NHS staff, who have been battling on the coronavirus front line for the past year.
The independent pay review body is examining the issue and is expected to issue its advice on the level of a pay rise next month.
Labour has demanded at least the 2.1% increase originally promised, while the Royal College of Nursing has demanded a 12.5% pay boost.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We wholeheartedly recognise the pressure this pandemic has put on all health and social care staff who continue to work tirelessly on the frontline, saving lives and caring for our most vulnerable.
“Over one million NHS staff have benefited from a multi-year pay deals agreed with trade unions, which have delivered a pay rise of over 12% for newly qualified nurses and will increase junior doctors’ pay scales by 8.2%.
“Pay rises in the rest of the public sector will be paused this year due to the challenging economic environment, but we will continue to provide pay rises for NHS workers. We have asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and will consider these carefully when we receive them.”
