Ministers have asked the NHS pay review body to cap the increase in frontline health workers' pay to 2% in 2023-24 to help the government achieve its ambition to curb soaring inflation.
But the attempt by the health secretary, Steve Barclay, to cap the annual salary rise at such a low level could lead to the NHS facing prolonged industrial action, health service bosses are warning. The 2% is barely a third of the estimate by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that inflation as measured by the consumer price index will average 5.5% during 2023-24.
The 2% plan comes against a background of widespread strikes across the NHS in protest at the government's decision to give the bulk of personnel a rise of £1,400 ($1,690) - or about 4% - for 2022-23. In England, ambulance staff will walk out again on 11 and 23 January, while nurses are due to refuse to work on 18 and 19 January, disrupting a wide range of services.
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