The MP for Telford, Lucy Allan, has welcomed news today that NHS staff are set to receive a minimum 6.5% pay rise over the next three years.
The Health Secretary’s announcement, today, will mean that one million NHS staff, including nurses, porters and paramedics from Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, will benefit from increases of at least 6.5% over three years, with some getting as much as 29%.
The deal has been formally agreed by union leaders and ministers and will cost over £4.2bn.
Staff will now be asked to vote on the deal with rises backdated to April if they agree by the summer.
The deal is tiered with the lowest paid in each job receiving the biggest rise.
The agreement covers all staff on the Agenda for Change contract which is about 1.3m across the UK.
The agreement in short will mean that:
- half of those covered by the Agenda for Change contract will get a 6.5% pay rise over three years;
- the other half will receive rises of between 9% and 29% because they are not at the top of their pay bands;
- the lowest full-time salary - paid to the likes of cleaners, porters and catering staff - will rise by 15% to more than £18,000
- these groups will get an immediate £2,000 rise this year;
- a nurse with one year's experience would see their basic pay rise by 21% over three years, giving them a salary of up to £27,400.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Ms Allan said:
“I am delighted that our hardworking nurses and paramedics in Telford, who contribute so much to our society, are finally being rewarded. I know that many public sector workers in Telford struggle to make ends meet, so this announcement today is to be welcomed.
“Nurses and other key staff at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, have been campaigning for an end to the pay cap for quite some time.
“That is why I am so delighted the Health Secretary has today recognised their calls, and will be giving them an immediate income boost from the Treasury, which will help these key workers in Telford who do so much for us.”