NURSING PAY

That this House recognises the enormous and vital contribution nurses, midwives and associated healthcare professionals make to the NHS across the UK; commends their strong sense of vocation and high levels of dedication; notes that nursing staff salaries have been subject to a one per cent pay freeze since 2010 and that nursing pay has fallen by more than 14 per cent in real terms since 2011; is concerned that this pay restraint has had a detrimental effect on nurses' standard of living and their morale; and calls on the Government to take action to remove the one per cent pay cap, to return to UK-wide pay scales, to implement a pay award for nursing staff in line with retail price index and to restructure the lowest Agenda for Change pay bands to pay the living wage and to maintain pay differentials.