Hospitals will be ‘under immense strain’ as nurses go on strike, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation has said. So, let’s look at the figures behind the unhealthiest strike of all… what do you think?
The Health Foundation think-tank has said the average basic pay for nurses fell by 5 per cent in reality since 2011.
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has said: “This is a once in a generation chance to improve pay and combat the staff shortages that put patients at risk.’.
“Patients pay a heavy price. We are doing this for them too.”
So, nurse are putting patients at risk – on Ms Cullen’s admittance – a. for the patient’s own good, b. on a bank holiday, c. when the country’s back is against the wall, d. when waiting lists are growing f. patients are left in corridors.
Now, let’s have a look at what people earn …NHS pay is operated in a banding system introduced in 2004.
A newly-qualified nurse starts in Band 5 and will earn £27,055 a year, slightly more in London. Most nurses operate in Bands 5 and 6, while Band 7 and above tend to be management positions.
The RCN has estimated that an average NHS nurse’s pay is around £34,000.
Here is the current banding scale:
- Band 5 – £27,055 to £32,934
- Band 6 – £33,706 to £40,588
- Band 7 – £41,659 to £47,672
The average income in the UK in 2022 was £27,600 per year or £1,950 per month.
So, let’s look at what people earn, according to JOBTED:
Dental Receptionist – Average Salary
The average salary for a Dental Receptionist is £8.50 net per hour (£20,000 gross per year), which is £9,600 (-32%) lower than the UK’s national average salary.
A Dental Receptionist can expect an average starting pay of £6.80 per hour. The highest pay rates can exceed £13 per hour.
Nanny – Average Salary
The average salary for a Nanny is £8.80 net per hour (£19,200 gross per year), which is £10,400 (-35%) lower than the UK’s national average salary.
A Nanny can expect an average starting pay of £7.65. The highest pay rates can exceed £15.
Dietitian – Average Salary
The average salary for a Dietitian is £32,300 gross per year (£2,120 net per month), which is £2,700 (+9%) higher than the UK’s national average salary.
A Dietitian can expect an average starting salary of £23,000. The highest salaries can exceed £60,000
Fashion Designer – Average Salary
The average salary for a Fashion Designer is £29,310 gross per year (£1,960 net per month), which is £290 (-1%) lower than the UK’s national average salary.
A Fashion Designer can expect an average starting salary of £21,650. The highest salaries can exceed £70,000.
Journalist – Average Salary
The average salary for a Journalist is £32,160 gross per year (£2,120 net per month), which is £2,560 (+9%) higher than the UK’s national average salary.
A Journalist can expect an average starting salary of £17,630. The highest salaries can exceed £50,000.
According to the NimbleFins website, on average UK households spend £671 per week (£2,907 a month) to cover living expenses including a roof, food, clothes and transport.
Things ain’t easy in this mean and septic isle of course – but do we need to hold the health of our fellow man to ransom when, on average, we are getting by? Why don’t nurse, doctors, lawyers, train drivers etc negotiate better deals for the future when the UK is better able to pay …?
Don’t forget that the country is also under attack from that other fundamental of society, educationalists.
The fact that children endured devastating Covid-related chaos and disruption to education, all sounds a bit uncaring doesn’t it. Any educator should be trying to connect with their students.
Almost all of us have faced pay cuts in real terms, simply because of the cost of living, inflation etc etc … but is this really the time for unions to be bringing ordinary people on the street to loggerheads?
Shouldn’t we all pull together to get back on our feet, for the sake of our sanity, health and bank balance?
#nhs #bankholiday #strike #patients #hospitals
