by Matt Trinder
Industrial reporter

HEALTH unions representing more than 1.3 million workers wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson today urging him to ensure that NHS staff receive a promised wage rise as soon as possible. 

The letter — signed by the heads of Unison, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) — says “hospitals are stretched to the limit,” with many “demoralised and traumatised” staff facing burnout as they battle Covid-19.

It comes as the results of a Savanta ComRes poll published by the UK’s 14 health unions showed a majority of the public (53 per cent) think that the government should bring forward an NHS wage increase, with 40 per cent supporting a “significant” increase.