I would like to take this opportunity to praise the incredible work being done by health and social care staff throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. These have been incredibly challenging circumstances and they have worked tirelessly to save lives, for which we are all grateful.
I am proud to say that NHS staff on the Agenda for Change (AfC) deal are already scheduled to receive pay rises, with all nurses receiving pay increases of at least 6.5 per cent by the end of the AfC time period. The starting salary for a newly qualified nurse will increase by more than 12 per cent and the Government has introduced a nurses' bursary which provides at least £5,000 of additional support to nursing students. It is my understanding that the NHS Pay Review Body will make further recommendations on pay rises for those on the AfC deal next year.
In addition, the UK Government has announced a pay rise of 2.8 per cent, backdated to April 2020, in line with the recommendations of the independent pay review body for dentists and doctors. I am pleased that the Welsh Government has agreed to match it as this pay rise is an important acknowledgment of the commitment and hard work of staff throughout this difficult time.
Healthcare is a devolved matter in Wales. The responsibility to fund NHS Wales and implement a pay rise rests with the Welsh Government. The UK Government has worked to ensure that NHS Wales is properly funded, and the 2020 Budget saw the largest year on year cash injection for Wales in ten years. This is in addition to the £4 billion made available to the Welsh Government since the outbreak of Coronavirus. The bottom line is – the Welsh Labour Government could fund a pay rise for NHS Nurses if it wanted to but chooses not to.
It has been brought to my attention that a demonstration has been planned outside of my office in the coming weeks. As well as protesting outside the wrong office, it feels irresponsible to be organising a mass gathering during a global pandemic. I am also disappointed that the organisers – who are not constituents of mine – did not approach me before they had opted to organise a politically motivated protest.
I will always fully support the tireless work of every staff member within the NHS and am fully prepared to discuss this with any constituent who wishes to see me.
Fay Jones MP
Member of Parliament for Brecon and Radnorshire