Responding to the news that the Welsh Government has offered a one-off payment to NHS workers in order to try and end strikes by nurses and ambulance staff Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:
“A one-off cost-of-living payment would be nothing but a sticking plaster and would not solve the long-term problems faced in recruitment and retention in the NHS.
“It is important to remember it isn’t just recent inflationary pressures, but the fact nurses have seen a fall in income over the last decade. Many nurses are now being forced to use food banks.
“With the numbers of vacancies increasing and people continuously leaving the nursing profession it is clear action needs to be taken to stem the tide.
“I do not accept the argument that increasing nurses’ pay will be detrimental to front-line services because our nurses are our frontline services.
“Without a long-term approach to recruitment, retention and pay we will be back in the same situation within a few months.”
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