A Christmas Message for Jeremy Hunt

Health members are sending a message to Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP :

‘All they want for Christmas is the Pay Review Body recommended pay rise’

Members have spent the past week signing Christmas cards to deliver to Mr Hunt asking him to do what’s right and award all NHS Staff the Pay Review Body recommended pay rise of just 1%.

So today they are sending over 3000 cards to the Houses of Parliament to make their voices heard.

Franco Buonaguro , UNISON West Midlands Regional Head of Health said:

“The message is simple, pay NHS staff what the Pay Review Body recommended. Health workers care for patients and their families every day of the year often when they are at their most vulnerable or distressed. The NHS depends on the goodwill and commitment of the workforce and this is now at breaking point.

We have spent the past week visiting staff in hospitals and talking to members of the public and there is a clear consistent message from both, NHS staff deserve better.

While many will be sitting down on Christmas day and enjoying some well earned time off with their families, many NHS staff will be at work, leaving their families to celebrate without them. Not only that, they will be there when things go wrong, ready to drive ambulances and run Accident and Emergency departments when emergencies arise.

For NHS staff there is no sign of a fair pay deal, so what choice do they have, they care, they continue to work on increasingly lower pay and often doing extra unpaid hours.”