Salisbury nurse urges chancellor to do the right thing and fund a pay rise
HS staff across Wiltshire want Rishi Sunak to recognise their work in the Budget later
More than 60,000 health care assistants, porters, operating theatre staff, nurses, caterers, ambulance staff, cleaners and members of the public across the UK have signed a letter to the chancellor asking him to properly reward NHS staff for their work before and during the pandemic.
Staff want Rishi Sunak to back a pay rise of at least £2,000 for all NHS workers, many of whom have put their health, wellbeing and personal lives on the line since Covid-19 struck.
In the letter, workers challenge the chancellor to step up and do his bit, as they have.
They argue a pay rise would show staff they're valued, provide a much-needed morale boost for burnt-out workers and tip the balance for the thousands on the brink of leaving the NHS, the union adds.
Faye Wiseman is a Sister on the Intensive Care Ward at Salisbury District Hospital
She told Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury staff need more than warm words from the government.
"We're asking for a pay rise to recognise all the hard work the NHS has done this past year and what we've coped with. The public have really recognised what we've done and the amount of support we've had from the public has been amazing and it would be fantastic if we could get the same from the government."
"It would mean everything to us to get a pay rise, it means that we are being recognised from the government for our hard work, and what we do, and if this last year hasn't shown it, I don't know what will."
UNISON South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said:
"Health workers have been battling the pandemic for a year. That's a year of incredibly long-hours, heightened anxiety around the safety of family and friends, and fears about catching the virus.
"All while carrying out demanding roles and dealing with the trauma of many thousands of deaths.
"They're giving their all to keep us safe. On Wednesday the chancellor can and should give something back to them on behalf of the nation."
"Rishi Sunak must do the right thing and back up words of praise with concrete actions by funding a pay rise of at least £2,000 for all NHS staff."