10/07/2007

NI nurses receive pay increase

The Northern Ireland Health Minister has announced a pay award for nurses.

Michael McGimpsey said the increase of 2.5% will be backdated from 1 April, and all key workers in “the wider health service team” will receive the pay increase.

Mr McGimpsey said: “This pay rise is fully deserved and goes some way towards demonstrating how our health service is valued.”

The Royal College of Nurses and Finance Minister Peter Robinson were consulted before agreeing the deal.

“The additional cost will be managed within the Health and Social Services budget,” the UUP minister added.

The move means nurses in England will be the only ones not receiving their full pay from April. They will receive a 1.5% now and an extra 1% in the autumn.

Mary Hynds, Northern Ireland Director for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed the decision. She said: “I am really pleased that our minister and our Assembly and our Executive have upheld that good faith and upheld that deal.”

Ms Hynds continued: “This is important because of honour and value.

“We entered into a process jointly in terms of the independent pay review body, we both said we would adhere to the outcome of that and then the Government in Westminster reneged.

“Our government in Northern Ireland, in a wonderful sign of democracy, has not reneged.”

She concluded: “This is saying that government in Northern Ireland actually values nurses – our colleagues in England will certainly feel less valued.”

(JM)

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