[Cherie]

Default Labour promise pay rises and more funding for NHS
they are pulling some decent policies out of the bag, 4 extra bank holidays is effectively a pay rise and now the 1 cent pay cap being lifted on the NHS



An NHS staff salary cap has kept pay rises below the rate of inflation for seven years




By Paul Kelso, Health Correspondent

Labour will deliver a pay rise to NHS staff if it wins the General Election, scrapping the existing cap on salaries as part of a three-point pledge for the health service.

NHS pay increases are currently subject to a 1% cap that has kept rises below the rate of inflation for seven consecutive years and is due to continue until 2020.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth will commit Labour to end the cap, introduce legislation to make "safe staffing" levels a matter of law and restore funding to students taking health-related degrees.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth
Video:
We can fund NHS pay rise, says Labour
In a speech to the UNISON Health Conference in Liverpool he will say: "NHS staff are the very pride of Britain. Yet they are ignored, insulted, undervalued, overworked and underpaid by this Tory government.

"Not anymore. Enough is enough.

"NHS staff have been taken for granted for too long by the Conservatives. Cuts to pay and training mean hard working staff are being forced from NHS professions and young people are being put off before they have even started.

"Now Brexit threatens the ability of health employers to recruit from overseas.

"What is bad for NHS staff is bad for patients too. Short staffing means reduced services and a threat to patient safety. Labour's new guarantees for NHS staff will help keep services running at the standard which England's patients expect."

Speaking to Sky News ahead of his address to delegates, Mr Ashworth said Theresa May could not continue her "shameful" attitude of "burying her head in the sand" and let the NHS get worse and worse.

The announcement comes amid evidence of a looming recruitment crisis and rising anger among NHS staff at constrained pay.


The latest 1% pay award, announced last month, was criticised by health unions and prompted the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) to ballot its members on whether they want to take strike action.

The chief executive of NHS England Simon Steven also distanced himself from the pay award, telling Sky News last month: "NHS staff of course deserve to be looked after, but questions of pay are not questions the NHS itself can decide."

Labour's announcement, the first of a number of health policies that will be included in its manifesto, was welcomed by health unions.

Janet Davies, chief executive of the RCN, said: "For too long, nursing staff have been undervalued and underpaid.

"It's a political choice to increase investment in health and social care and we call on all political parties to go further and commit to the long-term funding that patients and services need."

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Lifting the 1% pay cap would give health employees a long overdue pay rise - and show them just how much they're valued."

NHS Improvement wants price agreements rolled out across the health service
Image:
The announcement comes amid evidence of a looming NHS recruitment crisis
The Conservatives countered that Labour's economic policies would endanger all public services including the NHS.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Brexit would affect the NHS and it was "absolutely critical for our public services" to have a "strong leader" to get the best deal from the EU so there was more money for the health service.

In an interview on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hunt refused to be drawn on whether funding pledges for the NHS would be included in the Conservative manifesto.

He also refused to say whether inheritance tax would be used to pay for extra funding for social care but promised to "stop ducking" the issue and suggested measures would be contained in the manifesto.

Health policy will be a key battleground in the campaign after a hugely testing winter that saw the NHS struggle to meet rising demand and the impact of an ageing population.

There is a growing consensus among practitioners, health economists and some politicians that the current NHS structure is unsustainable without more funding or cuts to provision.

Last month Mr Stevens admitted that some targets including for four hour A&E waiting times will not be met on schedule because of financial constraints.

Mrs May has said she has given the NHS all the money it asked for, a claim Mr Stevens said was "stretching it".

Labour says it will guarantee the NHS "the funding it needs" and that the measures announced today will be paid for by reversing cuts to corporation tax and that its manifesto will be fully costed.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Default Labour promise pay rises and more funding for NHS
they are pulling some decent policies out of the bag, 4 extra bank holidays is effectively a pay rise and now the 1 cent pay cap being lifted on the NHS



An NHS staff salary cap has kept pay rises below the rate of inflation for seven years




By Paul Kelso, Health Correspondent

Labour will deliver a pay rise to NHS staff if it wins the General Election, scrapping the existing cap on salaries as part of a three-point pledge for the health service.

NHS pay increases are currently subject to a 1% cap that has kept rises below the rate of inflation for seven consecutive years and is due to continue until 2020.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth will commit Labour to end the cap, introduce legislation to make "safe staffing" levels a matter of law and restore funding to students taking health-related degrees.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth
Video:
We can fund NHS pay rise, says Labour
In a speech to the UNISON Health Conference in Liverpool he will say: "NHS staff are the very pride of Britain. Yet they are ignored, insulted, undervalued, overworked and underpaid by this Tory government.

"Not anymore. Enough is enough.

"NHS staff have been taken for granted for too long by the Conservatives. Cuts to pay and training mean hard working staff are being forced from NHS professions and young people are being put off before they have even started.

"Now Brexit threatens the ability of health employers to recruit from overseas.

"What is bad for NHS staff is bad for patients too. Short staffing means reduced services and a threat to patient safety. Labour's new guarantees for NHS staff will help keep services running at the standard which England's patients expect."

Speaking to Sky News ahead of his address to delegates, Mr Ashworth said Theresa May could not continue her "shameful" attitude of "burying her head in the sand" and let the NHS get worse and worse.

The announcement comes amid evidence of a looming recruitment crisis and rising anger among NHS staff at constrained pay.


The latest 1% pay award, announced last month, was criticised by health unions and prompted the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) to ballot its members on whether they want to take strike action.

The chief executive of NHS England Simon Steven also distanced himself from the pay award, telling Sky News last month: "NHS staff of course deserve to be looked after, but questions of pay are not questions the NHS itself can decide."

Labour's announcement, the first of a number of health policies that will be included in its manifesto, was welcomed by health unions.

Janet Davies, chief executive of the RCN, said: "For too long, nursing staff have been undervalued and underpaid.

"It's a political choice to increase investment in health and social care and we call on all political parties to go further and commit to the long-term funding that patients and services need."

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Lifting the 1% pay cap would give health employees a long overdue pay rise - and show them just how much they're valued."

NHS Improvement wants price agreements rolled out across the health service
Image:
The announcement comes amid evidence of a looming NHS recruitment crisis
The Conservatives countered that Labour's economic policies would endanger all public services including the NHS.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Brexit would affect the NHS and it was "absolutely critical for our public services" to have a "strong leader" to get the best deal from the EU so there was more money for the health service.

In an interview on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hunt refused to be drawn on whether funding pledges for the NHS would be included in the Conservative manifesto.

He also refused to say whether inheritance tax would be used to pay for extra funding for social care but promised to "stop ducking" the issue and suggested measures would be contained in the manifesto.

Health policy will be a key battleground in the campaign after a hugely testing winter that saw the NHS struggle to meet rising demand and the impact of an ageing population.

There is a growing consensus among practitioners, health economists and some politicians that the current NHS structure is unsustainable without more funding or cuts to provision.

Last month Mr Stevens admitted that some targets including for four hour A&E waiting times will not be met on schedule because of financial constraints.

Mrs May has said she has given the NHS all the money it asked for, a claim Mr Stevens said was "stretching it".

Labour says it will guarantee the NHS "the funding it needs" and that the measures announced today will be paid for by reversing cuts to corporation tax and that its manifesto will be fully costed.

I work for the NHS and can't be tempted by that in comparison to many of his other polices which are a lot less appealing. The carrot won't work for me.

Of course the NHS needs increased funding but where is he going to get the money from - be prepared for Hugh tax increases. He is promising the world at the moment out of sheer desperation - but beware of such unrealistic rhetoric in my opinion. Who knows maybe he actually believes what he says but if so a reality check is needed. Talk is cheap.

[Kizzy]

It's the clinical staff that need the help 'managers' can not run a hospital.
Selling off of lucrative services has taken the NHS from the black to the red.

[Cherie]

They will also reintroduce scrapped bursaries for nurses

[UserSince2005]

Gross! Nurses deserve a pay rise.

But what? are junior doctors going to go up to 35-40k starting salary? ****ing disgusting.

As if anyone should get paid that much for a simple customer service role.

Shut up and do your ****ing job!

Your job generates no benefit to the economy! You don't deserve over 30k!

[Livia]

Let's face it, the Labour Party could promise us all a free rocket jet pack... they won't get in so it's never going to be questioned.

Made me smile that they plan to abolish tuition fees for nurses and midwives when it was they who introduced them in the first place.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Livia

Let's face it, the Labour Party could promise us all a free rocket jet pack... they won't get in so it's never going to be questioned.

Made me smile that they plan to abolish tuition fees for nurses and midwives when it was they who introduced them in the first place.

The list just gets longer.
I can't wait to find out where he thinks all the funding for it is coming from, it certainly can't just be corporation tax.
We would all love everyone to have more money in their wage packets.
It doesn't seem to be working for him up to now, so it will be interesting to see what little nuggets come next.

[the truth]

yay he really is father Christmas with an unpaid credit card bill

[waterhog]

labour now u-turning on controlled immigration or limits to it - they are a walking disaster labour. not a clue.

[joeysteele]

This would be a better move than the confrontational attitude of the Cons to Doctors and Nurses.

Get the proper costing done independently from a change in corporation tax and this plan has merit.

Of course this present Conservative party will hate it, they prefer to see NHS staff utterly demoralised.

[Kazanne]

The Labour party always promise ,but rarely deliver,where will this money magically appear? he wont hit the well off as he isn't exactly poor is he? better the devil you know I say.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

This would be a better move than the confrontational attitude of the Cons to Doctors and Nurses.

Get the proper costing done independently from a change in corporation tax and this plan has merit.

Of course this present Conservative party will hate it, they prefer to see NHS staff utterly demoralised.

lol nonsense
nhs wales under labour cutback budget
the doctors crisis is down to labours insame 2004 gp contract

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

The Labour party always promise ,but rarely deliver,where will this money magically appear? he wont hit the well off as he isn't exactly poor is he? better the devil you know I say.

Where does Labour not deliver its promises.
He has said corporation tax is part of this plan to raise the funds.

All oppositions said Labour could never deliver a minimum wage,they did against all Conservative dire warnings against it.

Unbelievable selective criticism in advance with not a word about this govt.virtually tearing up a lot of what it promised just barely 2 years ago.

[Cherie]

Have the Tory's any policies as yet apart from delivering strong, stable leadership... and dodging questions on the triple lock and tax rises

[Kizzy]

All this and no manifesto yet?...

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Have the Tory's any policies as yet apart from delivering strong, stable leadership... and dodging questions on the triple lock and tax rises

And privatising the NHS.

Honestly, I'd rather go with the dreamers than the party that want to stamp anyone that isn't upper class into the ground.

[waterhog]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

And privatising the NHS.

Honestly, I'd rather go with the dreamers than the party that want to stamp anyone that isn't upper class into the ground.

for this to happen we need as you say the "dreamers"- to start taxing the rich a hell of allot more and putting the money where it is needed.

until we see action - labour are a dying rose.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

And privatising the NHS.

Honestly, I'd rather go with the dreamers than the party that want to stamp anyone that isn't upper class into the ground.

Yeah that's right. Everyone who ever voted Tory is either upper class or an idiot. And Labour are the "thinking" ones. Doesn't sound like real life to me.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Where does Labour not deliver its promises.
He has said corporation tax is part of this plan to raise the funds.

All oppositions said Labour could never deliver a minimum wage,they did against all Conservative dire warnings against it.

Unbelievable selective criticism in advance with not a word about this govt.virtually tearing up a lot of what it promised just barely 2 years ago.

lol they promised no more boom and bust lololololololol

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

And privatising the NHS.

Honestly, I'd rather go with the dreamers than the party that want to stamp anyone that isn't upper class into the ground.

its that chip on the shoulder self pitying exaggerated siege mentality that has taken the labour party into obscurity...the tories atm are actually better for working people of all classes because they create jobs and run a far better economy

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Have the Tory's any policies as yet apart from delivering strong, stable leadership... and dodging questions on the triple lock and tax rises

Not really, however they will likely get away with that.

This atrocious PM dodged the triple lock question twice today and was rattled when Corbyn raised it.
Nothing said about that however.

Yet barely 2 years ago the Cons promised a triple lock on pensions and no tax rises for 5 years.
It doesn't seem to matter however if they stop delivering a promise after not even halfway through the time promised, and promises even elected on too.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Not really, however they will likely get away with that.

This atrocious PM dodged the triple lock question twice today and was rattled when Corbyn raised it.
Nothing said about that however.

Yet barely 2 years ago the Cons promised a triple lock on pensions and no tax rises for 5 years.
It doesn't seem to matter however if they stop delivering a promise after not even halfway through the time promised, and promises even elected on too.

she did duck it but he totally failed to nail her with it, he was all over the map
vat should really be a topic in itself which he should hammer the pm with

[Cherie]

Are the Torys so far ahead in the Polls that they don't need to explain anything? explain why we can keep foreign aid at the same level, but we cant afford the triple lock, explain why pensioners are paying for their own social care via council tax rather than social care being taken care of through the income tax system, it seems incredible to me they can just say nothing and people are going to vote for them anyway....don't get me wrong I don't trust Labour either but at least they are coming up with some policies that are giving something to the people who raise taxes in this country rather than chucking it at despots and dictators...and countries with their own space programmes

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Are the Torys so far ahead in the Polls that they don't need to explain anything? explain why we can keep foreign aid at the same level, but we cant afford the triple lock, explain why pensioners are paying for their own social care via council tax rather than social care being taken care of through the income tax system, it seems incredible to me they can just say nothing and people are going to vote for them anyway....don't get me wrong I don't trust Labour either but at least they are coming up with some policies that are giving something to the people who raise taxes in this country rather than chucking it at despots and dictators...and countries with their own space programmes

corbyn missed an open goal yet again

[Northern Monkey]

Well he's trying his hardest bless him.More than he did for the remain campaign.Be interesting to see if all these promises get him somewhere.