Thread by @AngryStaffNurse

@heraldscotland article today with the headline:
"@GMB_union needs to accept the reality over public finances"
Here's a thread with reasons not only why NHS staff deserve a substantial pay rise, but why it would be fiscally sensible to do so #NHSpay15
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The article states that the Scottish government's offer of 4% is considerably higher than that of Westminster's 1%, whilst true, let's give the numbers some context:

- NHS staff have endured 10 years of pay restraint. With the 1% pay freeze & austerity impacting NHS pay packets.

- Figures show that some staff on the Agenda for Change (AfC) are up to 32% worse off compared to 2010.

nursingnotes.co.uk/news/years-of-…

- Total pay on the AfC spine point with the highest incidence of staff (Healthcare professionals at the top of Band 5 for example) has declined by 15% since 2010-11.

londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

The article acknowledges the "extraordinary challenges" the NHS has faced over the past year. YOU DON'T SAY:

- 850 NHS staff have died due to the pandemic. Likely more due to ONS figures only covering up to the end of 2020.

ons.gov.uk/releases/coron…

- My personal experience of working 50+ hours in a week and holding the phone to a lady dying of covid with her family on the other end of the phone in hysterics, will likely have an impact on me that I have not yet felt.

- An @theRCN survey last year pointed out that during the pandemic, nurses experienced a higher level of stress, worked more unpaid hours, looked after sicker patients, had higher levels of responsibilities and many more.
rcn.org.uk/news-and-event…

The author argues that the years of pay restraint and the year from hell should not be the only consideration for the argument for NHS pay. As there has been a lot of borrowing/huge public expenditure due to the pandemic and that it is everyone's responsibility to address that.

- Again in reference to the London Economics (LE) report, if NHS staff were to be given a 15% pay rise, it would equate to an approx. £1.33bn boost in the economy, with all industries from the arts to retail benefitting.

londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

- In short, more money in normal peoples' pockets will be spent in local economies, stimulating economic growth. Exactly what the economy needs.

- It's also important to mention that the gov't's and Bank of England's relationship is not the usual borrower/lender relationship.

- Interest rates are at an all time low and the Bank of England is hardly going to send in the bailiffs to no. 10.

- But what about the cost? According to LE, £5.1bn for a 15% restorative NHS pay uplift. That's less than the entire NHS bank/agency bill for 2019/20. Agency spend takes NHS funding away from the frontline & better permanent pay would reduce that bill.
liaisongroup.com/blog/hospitals…

- LE also states that around £2.39bn would be clawed back in tax and national insurance contributions. (See above reference).

*Note LE actually reports on a 5% and 10% NHS pay increase. 10% is reported as 5% doubled hence how I calculated 15%.

What about the private sector vs public sector pay argument? What about those who don't have jobs?

- The public/private sector pay gap has disappeared in 2019/20 (when taken experience and qualifications into account.

bbc.co.uk/news/55089900

- If you think that the government have not done enough for workers on furlough or not enough for the unemployed during the pandemic, it is not NHS staff that should take the hit. Looking after both groups can be SYNONYMOUS and it is the gov't's responsibility to do so.

The article then references the liberal use of taxpayers money for political gain.

I shall now list some uses of taxpayers money by the UK gov't:
+ £128m earmarked for "Festival of Brexit"
+ £millions on PPE contracts infested with cronyism of which, some produced no USEABLE PPE

+ £37bn on a useless Track and trace system
+ £7,000 a day on consultants for the above
+ £2.6m on a new media briefing room at No. 9
+ £9m US style situation bunker in Whitehall
+ £570,321 in 20198/20 chauffeuring red box documents to different departments to/from Whitehall

- I could go on with the misuse of taxpayers' money but I don't want to spend the entire month of April doing so.

- Diverging from the Herald article, the list above is why the "affordability" argument of only a 1% pay rise for NHS staff is quite frankly bollocks.

(Back on track)
Concluding the article, the author states that it is "irresponsible" of GMB to having the position of a 15% pay rise for NHS staff.

Not only is the @heraldscotland grossly misinformed, but it is directing its resources to vilifying those representing NHS staff.

Not only would a 15% restorative pay uplift for NHS staff fiscally viable and sensible, it would also bolster the NHS workforce to be ready for future crises.

A fair pay deal would help with recruitment and retention of staff and it would show that we truly value them.

To conclude, I would ask you to take a moment and imagine this:

Where would we be without the NHS? What state would our hospitals be in? Would the vaccine roll-out be as successful or efficient?

#NHSpay15