Nurses Depressed By Low Pay Rises

A NEW survey by the Royal College of Nursing has found that Britain’s nursing staff are less than happy with their lot, with only 34 per cent believing that the profession offers a secure job, down from 71 per cent in 2005. (Pic: Beau Bo D’Or)

The survey, which questioned 9,000 members also found that 35 per cent claimed they were afraid of redundancy, a rise from just seven per cent two years ago.

One in four nurses also said they would leave the profession if they could while less than half said they would recommend it as a career.

RCN general secretary, Peter Carter, says: “To have such a large part of the nursing workforce genuinely worried about the security of their employment is simply unacceptable. Despite feeling undervalued, underpaid and under threat, our nurses continue to put in the hours and dedication to deliver high-quality patient care. But this survey demonstrates to the Government that nurses’ goodwill is at breaking point.”

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dems health spokesman is unimpressed. Says he: “Things can only get better was what Labour said when it came to power. Ten years on, nurses’ morale is at rock bottom and the Government has got to take responsibility for that. We should be very concerned because when staff morale suffers, patients suffer too.”

Indeed, 55 per cent of nurses questioned also felt that they were too busy to provide the care whey would like.

Nurses in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to receive a 2.5 per cent pay award all in one go, but for English nurses the increase will be staggered, reducing its value, says the Mail, to 1.9 per cent over the year.

So think before you complain that your hospital dinner is cold. The nursing profession is not in the mood.

Anorak

Posted: 19th, July 2007 | In: Money Comments (5) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink