Rishi Sunak says nurses' pay rise demands are 'obviously unaffordable'

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A pay rise demanded by nurses about to go on strike is 'obviously unaffordable', the PM has said.

S' Speaking on Friday, the Prime Minister claimed the Royal College of Nursing's demands amounted to a pay rise of 19% or £10billion.

Mr. Sunak said he had "enormous respect and gratitude" for nurses, but told broadcasters: "What the unions are asking for, I think, is a 19% pay rise.

"And I think most people watching will agree that it's obviously unaffordable, and that's why I'm glad the Health Secretary is sitting down, talking to the union, and I hope we We can find a way to fix this."

< p>Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to strike for two days in December in what is expected to be their biggest stoppage in NHS history.

They will still provide emergency care, but routine operations are in place to be hit.

In Scotland, the RCN has suspended the announcement of strike action after the devolved government reopened NHS wage negotiations.

The General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, P at Cullen, said today there were ministers who had 'chosen to strike' by refusing wage demands.

"Care workers are tired of being taken for granted, tired of low salaries and insecure staffing levels, enough of not being able to give our patients the care they deserve,” she said.

The RCN is calling for nurses to be granted a 5% raise above RPI inflation. RPI is currently at 14 percent.

Any increase below inflation would represent a real reduction in wages for a sector that is already struggling with retention and recruitment.

The union says there is a strong economic case for paying nurses fairly when billions of pounds are being spent on agency staff to fill workforce gaps.

According to RCN figures in the last year, 25,000 UK nurses left the Nursing and Midwifery Council register, while there are 47,000 nursing posts. unfilled registered nurses in England's only NHS. start talking" with the nurses to avoid the walkout, which would take place on December 15 and 20.