Barclay ‘keen’ to speak with nurses’ union but no direct response to 10% offer
Health Secretary Steve Barclay toured Watford General Hospital on Friday.
The Health Secretary is “keen to have dialogue” with the nursing union, but did not directly respond to questions about whether he would accept its latest compromise of a 10% pay rise.
Steve Barclay spoke with journalists during a visit to Watford General Hospital after the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Pat Cullen, called on the Government to meet it “halfway” on wage negotiations.
Mr Barclay spoke with doctors at the hospital’s A&E department during a tour with journalists, before speaking with patients privately.
When asked about the RCN’s update on its pay request, Mr Barclay said he was looking forward to discussing a “more affordable” settlement.
He said: “I am keen to have dialogue with Pat Cullen and the RCN.
“There is common ground in recognising the NHS is under pressure and we need to respond to that.
“I look forward to talking with the RCN and the other trade unions to see how we make any settlement done through the independent pay review body more affordable.”
The RCN has said that nurses’ pay has dropped by 20% over the last decade.
Thousands of nurses walked out on December 15 and 20, and RCN members are poised to strike again on January 18 and 19 unless negotiations are properly opened.
The planned action would involve nurses from more NHS employers in England than in the previous strikes, increasing from 44 to 55 trusts, according to the RCN.
The union has also warned that strike action could continue over the next six months unless an agreement can be reached.
An RCN spokesperson said: “Like late last year, we will always meet the Health Secretary to discuss the issues. But negotiations about pay for the current year, not next year, are what we need to call off this month’s strike action.”
