Royal College of Nursing will "fiercely resist" regional pay for nursing staff

The Royal College of Nursing has pledged to “fiercely resist” any move to get rid of national pay rates and bring in regional pay for nursing staff.

Chancellor George Osborne, announced in his budget speech that the coalition would be “looking to see whether we can make public-sector pay more responsive to local pay rates”, which would “help our private sector to grow and create jobs in all parts of the country.”

However RCN (Royal College of Nursing) chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter believes “introducing regional pay would only serve to drive down pay in certain areas and lead to damaging competition between NHS employers”.

He said: “ Ultimately it is patients who would suffer.” The RCN welcomed the rise in personal allowances but said that nursing staff were unlikely to find a silver lining in this budget.

Dr Carter added: “The rising cost of petrol, a two-year pay freeze, and an attack on their pensions are all making nurses feel the pinch every day.

“This budget paints a mixed picture for the health of the nation. On the one hand we welcome measures including a rise in tax on cigarettes. However, the government has indicated that it plans to make dramatic cuts to welfare payments.”

NHS Employers is also opposed to the plans. It acknowledged that the Government needs to look at solutions to keep pay costs down as a major chunk of every NHS organisation's budget goes on paybill costs, but Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, said: “Employers will want to ensure any proposal avoids increased administration and recognises the risks of pay inflation within localities.

“Most employers would like a more flexible approach to pay, terms and conditions to be delivered through the development of the national framework, for instance extending supplements based on the location of the organisation.”

However he added: “Employers are concerned that a crude zonal or regional system would not work effectively across the range of occupations and professions that exist in the NHS.”

George Osborne is pictured above; credit Conservative Party