An ice cream van pulled up to Mount Gould Hospital in Plymouth this morning as UNISON handed out treats for NHS staff.
As well as handing out ice cold ice cream to NHS staff working in the, UNISON activists and workplace reps were busy talking to colleagues around issues on NHS pay and conditions.
Last week thousands of NHS workers found out that they will receive an increase of just £1,400 on their annual salary, which equates to approximately 4.5%.
UNISON South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: “With inflation running at 11.8%, this wage rise isn’t going down well with our members working tirelessly in healthcare. We know that the public understands an above-inflation pay increase is needed or fed-up health workers won’t hang around.
“If the staffing exodus continues, waits for ambulances, operations and other treatments won’t reduce. The government says it’s committed to the NHS, but a pay increase falling far short of prices won’t take the heat out of the staffing crisis. Ministers must avoid stumbling into an unnecessary dispute by giving a fair pay rise that protects patients and the NHS too.”
