NHS staff in Wales accept three year pay deal worth 6.5%
NHS staff in Wales, including nurses and midwives, have agreed a new three year pay deal worth 6.5%.
The agreement matches one announced in England earlier this year, and goes beyond in some areas, said the Welsh government.
Pay bands will be restructured to include higher starting rates and there will be shorter pay scales.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething (pictured) said: “Our NHS staff do a fantastic job delivering world-class care under immense pressure and scrutiny. They work incredibly hard, always putting patients first and keeping them safe, while delivering the best care possible.
“I’m pleased that today we are able to reward this dedication with a new pay deal that gives parity with their counterparts in England, and goes beyond it in some areas that will benefit the Welsh NHS.
“After eight years of austerity, imposed by the UK Government, we have committed extra funding beyond the consequential funding that we received following the pay rise in England, to offer a deal which is not only fair to staff and taxpayers but will also lead to a better NHS for Wales.”
Helen Rogers, Royal College of Midwives Director for Wales, said midwives accepted the offer by almost 9-1.
“This was a very good offer, especially in the current climate. I am pleased that our members have accepted it by such an overwhelming majority. It means that midwives, maternity support workers and other NHS staff can start to see real increases in their pay.
“I see this as the start of better and fairer pay for midwives and other NHS staff in Wales.”
Donna Hutton of Unison said: “NHS staff in Wales have voted overwhelmingly to accept the pay offer, reflecting just how keen they are for the negotiations to be over and for the money to be in their pockets.
“The pay rise won’t solve every problem in the NHS, but it will help ease the financial strain suffered by health staff and their families over many years.
“It will also make life easier for all the employers who’ve found it hard to attract new recruits and hold on to their experienced staff because of the previous 1% cap on pay.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) BMA Wales.
