Medical and dental staff working for the NHS have been given a 4.5% pay rise that the government has heralded a ‘fair deal for staff.’
Health Secretary Steve Barclay stated that ‘the government hugely values and appreciates the dedication and contribution of NHS staff’, but the move has been widely criticised, as, due to skyrocketing inflation rates, this ‘rise’ is effectively more of a pay cut.
Protect the NHS?
The government has built this pay rise on top of last year’s 3% rise – meaning that in the past two years, these staff have received a 7.5% pay increase. However, as inflation reaches 9.4% and could soar to 11% before the end of the year, this increase is not on par with the spiraling economy.
The chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Scottish council, Dr Lewis Morrison, described the move as a ‘large real-terms pay cut.’ After the huge international profile of NHS staff throughout the pandemic and the UK government’s reliance on it as a rallying cry for civil obedience to ‘protect the NHS’, it is no surprise that many are incensed by this latest development.
‘Hugely damaging’
BMA Scotland stated that this offer has done ‘nothing to undo years of real-term pay erosion for doctors.’
‘In response to this hugely disappointing award we will be urgently consulting our members to gauge their views, and what steps we may take as a result.
He continued: ‘In the face of spiralling inflation this is still a large real-terms pay cut, which will be hugely damaging to the morale of an already exhausted and depleted workforce, after two-and-a-half-years leading our country’s response to the pandemic and the years of vacancies and escalating demand that preceded that.’
‘Derisory’
Similarly for the police forces, the UK government has announced a similar wage rise, with a £1,900 boost for officers in England and Wales. Police Scotland, however, was offered £565 – an offer described by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) as ‘derisory’ leading them to withdraw ‘all goodwill.’
The SPF general secretary, Calum Steele, said a revised offer would likely be rejected as it, too, was lower than the increase for England and Wales.