§ 32. Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the pay and conditions of nurses and midwives employed by the national health service since 1979.
§ 51. Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the pay and conditions of nurses and midwives in the national health service since 1979.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyPay for nursing and midwifery staff has risen by an average of 43 per cent. in real terms since 1979.
In 1983 the Government established an independent pay review body to recommend levels of pay for nursing and midwifery staff. All seven review body reports have been accepted in full, with staging in three cases.
Hours of work were reduced from 40 to 37½ a week during 1980–81 without loss of pay. This was equivalent to a 6.5 per cent. increase in pay.
New clinical and education grading structures were introduced in 1988 and 1989 respectively which provide better and more flexible career opportunities for those staff engaged in clinical and teaching practice. A new pay structure for senior nurse managers has recently been agreed in the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council.