SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has reiterated his support for NHS staff who are being denied a pay rise in line with staff across the UK, despite the framework for pay terms receiving Ministerial consent as far back as 2004.
The Foyle MLA said: “Every day our health workers go above and beyond the call of duty.
“They work in situations more stressful than most of us can imagine. When things go wrong, they are the ones who put us back together again.
“Therefore, it is wholly unjust that they are being denied fair and equitable wages in line with their counterparts across the UK.
“Without real clarity on what can and cannot receive the go ahead without Ministerial sign-off in the absence of an Assembly, I have written to the Secretary of State to ask if she will allow the civil service to allow health workers to receive additional funding from Agenda for Change UK to give staff here a pay rise as a matter of urgency.
“That said, this could be signed-off tomorrow if Stormont was back up and running.
“However, where others’ priorities lie elsewhere, our precious NHS staff continue to shoulder the burden for a health service at breaking point whilst not receiving a fair wage for doing so.”
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