Scottish and Welsh health secretaries issue plea for more cash for the NHS to the UK government amid looming strike action by nursing and ambulance staff
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The Scottish and Welsh health secretaries have issued a plea to the UK government to increase the funding available for NHS pay amid strike plans by nursing and ambulance staff among others.
Humza Yousaf and Eluned Morgan wrote to UK health secretary Steve Barclay to ask for additional cash to help avert strike action this winter, which was already expected to be one of the most challenging ever for the NHS.
Earlier, Mr Yousaf said he did not have any more money for NHS pay awards arguing that it is the responsibility of Westminster to provide extra cash – something not welcomed in London.
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In the letter the pair stated: “The risk to the NHS of industrial action this winter is profound, and we all need to do all we can to avert industrial action in any form. The NHS across the UK continues to feel the effects of the pandemic as it recovers and remobilises, and any action is likely to have catastrophic effects in all parts of the UK.
“We are experiencing a cost of living crisis and the anger of NHS staff is entirely understandable. Sky-rocketing inflation combined with high interest rates, a direct result of the havoc caused by the UK government’s mini-budget, means that we are simply unable to come close to matching the expectations of NHS staff across the country.”
GMB Scotland organiser Karen Leonard said: “These strikes are a direct response to the Scottish Government who have failed to give key, frontline workers the pay rise that they deserve and who have overseen years of managed decline in the health services that so many rely on.
“Staff are rightly angry with how they’re being treated. They have been overlooked, overworked, undervalued and underpaid. The workforce is being expected to fill more and more gaps in service provision. With the current offer being well below inflation, that means they’re being expected to do more for less.
“This isn’t sustainable for our members.”
