DOCTORS should not expect unaffordable inflation-busting pay rises, Rishi Sunak today warned.
Visiting a health screening facility in Nottinghamshire, the PM vowed to make the NHS “fit for the future”.
APRishi Sunak today vowed to make the NHS ‘fit for the future’[/caption]
APThe PM and Health Secretary Steve Barclay visited a health screening facility in Nottinghamshire this morning[/caption]
AFPAt the facility, the PM refused to commit to pay hikes for doctors recommended by the independent pay review body[/caption]
But he refused to commit to accepting salary hikes recommended by pay bodies.
The independent pay review body for junior doctors is expected to recommended a “6% plus” rise next month.
However, Mr Sunak insisted he’s ready to make decisions “people don’t like” in order to grip the cost of living crisis.
With inflation stagnant at 8.7%, the PM is worried borrowing money for costly pay hikes would only make things worse.
He said: “I think everyone can see the economic context that we’re in with inflation higher than we’d like it and it’s important that in that context the government makes the right and responsible decisions on things like public sector pay.”
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It comes as junior doctors are set to strike for five days in a row next month.
Mr Sunak slammed the walkouts as “very disappointing”.
“It’s just going to make it harder to bring waiting lists down,” he said.
“I think people should recognise the economic context we’re in and I’m going to make the decisions that are the right ones for the country.
“That’s not always easy, people may not like that, but those are the right things for everybody that we get a grip of inflation.”
This week the government will reveal its long awaited NHS workforce plan.
The long-awaited document will outline plans to expand the number nurses and doctors, retain NHS staff and slash waiting lists.
The PM insisted there’s a “record numbers of doctors, nurses and new ways of doing things which are starting to make a difference” .
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He added: “We also need to make the decisions that will modernise the NHS for the long term… and to make sure that we hire the doctors, the nurses and all the other GPs and medical staff that we need.
The PM also pledged to “reduce our reliance on foreign-trained clinical staff” by training up more British doctors.