Wes Streeting issues 'don't strike' appeal to NHS staff before crunch union talks
Wes Streeting has started crunch talks with unions and issued a direct appeal to NHS staff to reject strikes.
Inflation has since swallowed up any real terms increase for 2025/26 and unions are demanding urgent reforms to boost working conditions and speed up career progression to avoid walkouts.
The Health Secretary met with the ambulance workers' union yesterday after the bulk of the NHS workforce rejected a 3.6% pay rise. GMB negotiators came out saying talks had been "positive" but warned other NHS staff "need to be invested in - not just the doctors". Other NHS unions have been angered after resident doctors, who staged a five-day strike last month, got a 5.4% deal.
'I'm a doctor and can earn £10k more a month after quitting NHS for Australia'
Speaking to the Mirror, Mr Streeting said: 'I've spent a lot of time shadowing ambulance crews on the frontline and they've got a really challenging job. I know that crews are concerned about their pay, conditions and career progression.
'I'm absolutely committed to working constructively with the trade unions. The advantage of having a Labour government is that we work constructively on our industrial relations. We want a genuine partnership with a workforce. We don't want to be at loggerheads in the way that our conservative predecessors were and it does require a bit of give and take.'
The Treasury has said it cannot improve on the headline pay deal but Mr Streeting is starting a period of intense negotiations with health unions in an attempt to offer them enough other perks to stop them striking later this year. Unions also want commitments to above inflation deals over the rest of the parliament.
It comes as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation is 3.6% and the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure - which includes mortgage costs - is 4.4%.
Unions representing most workers on the main NHS contract - Unison, the Royal College of Nursing, Unite and GMB - have opposed this year's 3.6% pay award. Resident doctors were awarded 5.4% and their union, the British Medical Association (BMA), had already balloted for strikes and has a mandate for doctors to stage walk-outs until January.
Mr Streeting has since met the Royal College of Nursing and joked yesterday during a visit to University College Hospital in north London that General Secretary Nicola Ranger had been "banging my head" on issues around career progression and pay. He will meet the Unite union in the next fortnight.
Mr Streeting said: 'One of the things I have been saying to the doctors is, 'I've got to make sure that their careers in the NHS improve, but I've got a responsibility to other NHS staff too'. I've got a responsibility to the whole 1.5 million strong workforce.
'So we've been having good discussions, not just with the BMA, but more constructively with the Royal College of Nursing, Unison, GMB, who I'll meet today, and soon with Unite. I do want to work constructively with the trade unions, because I genuinely think if we improve the conditions, the recruitment, the retention of staff, we'll be improving the lives of patients.
'Because the Labour government is putting in place the resources and the reform the NHS needs, but we can't do it alone. I'm relying on 1.5 million brilliant people who work in the NHS.'
It came on the day Mr Streeting announced a "graduate guarantee" for nurses and midwives helping them get a job after they get qualified. NHS providers will be able to begin recruiting before vacancies formally arise, based on demand projections, to stop a situation where many newly qualified nurses can't get a job.
NHS staff on the main Agenda for Change contract - which excludes doctors and dentists - have been awarded a 3.6% increase for 2025/26. This uplift was recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) based on evidence submitted by the government, employers and unions. However unions have questioned the impartiality of the pay review body.
The GMB is looking for a commitment to restore real-terms pay lost during 15 years over Tory rule over the next two parliaments. They are calling for ambulance workers to get a similar early retirement age to other first-responders, police and firefighters. The union is calling for lower paid hospital staff to have their salaries increased to the UK Living Wage and says all NHS staff must be exempt from hospital parking charges.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: 'We had a positive meeting with the Health Secretary today. We raised issues from the frontline - members feeling undervalued and demoralised.
'GMB priorities are restorative pay and we need to see Government commit to this. There are fixes that Government can do now to help workers on the ground feel the changes. Agenda for Change staff need to be invested in, not just the doctors. Wes said they are looking to invest in the Agenda for Change contract reforms and seeing where more money can be found for this.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bizarre hack could help banish painful leg cramps, top medic claims - could YOU stomach it?
It is an incredibly painful problem that troubles even the most experienced of runners and athletes—leg muscle cramps. But there could be a simple solution—drinking pickle juice, revealed NHS GP Dr Sooj, in a video recently posted on TikTok to his 250,000 followers. The peculiar sounding trick has been used by professional footballers like Newcastle star Kieran Trippier, who was previously seen drinking a sachet of the juice. Similarly, ex-Arsenal star Lucas Torreira was spotted drinking pickle juice during his side's win over Chelsea in 2019. It has even been used by the Lionesses who reportedly stocked up on pickle juice for their Euro 2024 campaign. While it is a simple hack Dr Sooj said 'athletes swear by', he added the science behind it remains unclear. He referred to a study of patients with liver cirrhosis—permanent scarring of the organ—that found pickle juice reduced the severity of muscle cramps more than water. While he added it didn't stop the muscle cramps completely, other studies have found more evidence that the remedy is in fact effective. A 2020 study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, found pickle juice to be one of the most effective foods for treating muscle cramps. This is because the salt contained in the juice can provide a key electrolyte to the body, which can ease a heavy session of sweat-related cramps. Salt is an ingredient in many in sports drinks, along with other minerals such as potassium, another element which is found in pickle juice which can help you stay hydrated for longer. Pickle juice is also packed with antioxidants and vitamins C and E, which are believed to support the immune system, as well as bolster other health functions. Vinegar, which is the main ingredient in pickling liquid, is backed by some research that suggests it could be beneficial for weight management, as it may help to control blood sugar and reduce appetite. Dr Sooj was reacting to a viral video in which a woman claimed that the bizarre hack could help with period cramps. 'It is thought drinking two to three ounces [60-85ml] of pickle juice for menstrual cramps can help because it has a high electrolyte content,' he said. These 'can help to ease muscle cramps and the vinegar may also trigger a reflex that promotes muscle relaxation and reduces pain', he explained. However he added: 'Remember the plural of anecdote is not data and there isn't much evidence that pickle juice would be helpful for menstrual cramps. 'But if you do want to give it a try make sure to do it in moderation, because the high sodium content can be risky for those with certain health conditions.' At the end of the video, he invited social media users to let him know if they've found it effective.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
What foods can cause deadly botulism after broccoli urgently recalled in Italy?
One man has died and nine others have been hospitalised after an outbreak of the lethal toxin. Italy has been forced to issue a nationwide recall of broccoli after an outbreak of a deadly condition known as botulism. One man has died and nine others have been hospitalised in southern Italy after consuming broccoli products infected with bacteria. Botulism is a rare but sometimes fatal condition that attacks the nervous system, which can lead to muscle paralysis and difficulty breathing. The condition is caused by toxins produced by a type of bacteria that can contaminate certain foods. The man who died from the condition in Italy was 52-year-old artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, who became critically ill after he and his family all ate the same broccoli and sausage sandwich from a street food van in the Cosenza province. Emergency services were called but he passed away before reaching the hospital. Nine others, including two women in their 40s and two teenagers were admitted to hospitals in Cosenza after experiencing similar botulism symptoms. Two patients ended up in intensive care, according to New Food Magazine. But as the condition makes headlines, questions are rising on which foods are susceptible to contamination with this deadly bacteria, and the symptoms of botulism. So, what is this condition and how is it spread? Here's everything you need to know. What is botulism? Botulism is a potentially fatal yet rare condition that attacks the nervous system. The condition is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which most commonly contaminates canned or preserved foods. Botulism occurs when these toxins attack the nerves, brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis and muscle weakness. Most people will fully recover with treatment, but in some cases the paralysis can spread to the muscles that control breathing, which is fatal in around five to 10 per cent of cases. What foods can cause botulism? Mayo Clinic explains that botulism is most commonly found in homemade food that is incorrectly canned or preserved. These foods can include: fruits vegetables fish spicy peppers (chiles) foil-wrapped baked potatoes oil infused with garlic The bacteria can also make its way into the body through wounds, which is common in people who inject heroin. Babies can also be infected, often through eating honey or through exposure to contaminated soil, the experts explain. Botulism also very rarely occurs when too much botulinum toxin is injected into the body for cosmetic or medical reasons - it can be used to remove wrinkles or even for treating migraines. Symptoms of botulism The NHS explains that the time it takes to develop botulism symptoms can vary from a few hours to several days after exposure to the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Some people initially have symptoms such as feeling sick, being sick, stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation. But without treatment, botulism eventually causes paralysis that spreads down the body from the head to the legs. Symptoms can include: drooping eyelids blurred or double vision facial muscle weakness difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) slurred speech breathing difficulties Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
In pictures: Gloucestershire Uni staff move into former Debenhams
University of Gloucestershire staff have begun moving into the former Debenhams building in Gloucester city new City Campus cost almost £75 million and will be a base for 1,200 students and staff, with the public also able to use some new campus will host education, psychology and social work students and will also be home to a new arts, health and wellbeing centre - run in partnership with the NHS - and a new public move marks the completion of work on the ground and first floors as part of phase one of the overall project. Dr Katerina Kantartzis, lead for the arts, health and wellbeing centre said it was an "exciting collaboration" with the NHS that would place greater emphasis on "social proscribing and preventative health". The new campus was partly paid for by the NHS and Gloucestershire Council in addition to grant and levelling up funding, with the remaining cost borne by the university. Clare Marchant, vice chancellor of the university, said the campus was "unique" in combining teaching, research and community spaces, adding that she hopes the new wellbeing space will help to identify and resolve issues faced by the "overburdened" NHS. The university bought the former department store in 2021 and it now contains lecture and seminar rooms, casual work spaces and research laboratories with virtual reality capabilities. Gloucestershire County Council leader Jeremy Hilton said the new campus would be at the "heart" of a "vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving" city centre, which will also include The Forum and the Greyfriars Quarter. Earlier plans for the campus included spaces fit for 4,000 students and staff. But during construction, the decision was made to invest in the university's Cheltenham campus and the nearby Golden Valley development, leaving the new campus with extra space. Some areas in the former Debenhams store are still under construction.
