Nurses’ Plea To Gibbons

Nurses have called on Health Minister Brian Gibbons to increase pressure on Westminster over their annual pay review. It comes as Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr has implemented the recommended pay increase of 2.5%.

This is in the face of Westminster’s decision to stagger the below-inflation pay increase over the year. The Royal College of Nursing Wales wants the full implementation of the pay recommendations across the UK – it believes nurses should receive the same basic salary for the same skills and expertise wherever they work.

Tina Donnelly, director RCN Wales, said, “We call for Dr Brian Gibbons, the Health Minister for Wales, to join with his Scottish counterpart to increase pressure on Westminster to review the decision to stage this year’s award. It is now time the Government shows just how much it values nurses by giving them a fair and decent pay award that reflects their skill and dedication to the profession.”