Government denies fair pay for NHS staff, says CSP

Physiotherapists will have endured ten years of pay restraint

Responding to the Government’s decision to accept the Pay Review Body’s (PRB) recommended 1 precent pay rise for all NHS staff Pete Finch, Assistant Director of Employment Relations and Union Services at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said:

'It’s encouraging to see the Government taking stock of Pay Review Body recommendations, but after years of pay restraint and increasing workloads, a 1 percent rise won’t give physiotherapists and other NHS staff much cause for celebration.

'Furthermore, we are concerned about the extent to which the Review Body continues to be constrained by a Government pay policy that restricts increases to an average of 1% for this year through to 2020. This means physiotherapy staff will have endured ten years of pay restraint from 2010, which is shameful.

'This year NHS staff pay packets will be further hit by a Government imposed increase in national insurance contributions and rising inflation - set to reach 3 per cent by 2017 - according to the Government run Office for Budget Responsibility.

'Ongoing restraint leading effectively to a real terms cut in take home pay is unacceptable and also unsustainable.

'As the PRB points out, pay, including enhancements, needs to remain competitive to both attract and retain staff to support the delivery of high quality patient care. The body also says that low pay awards serve to make many staff feel undervalued. Shortages of staff are already emerging in the NHS, which the CSP estimates at 500 physiotherapy posts annually.'

Note to editors

For further media information about the CSP please call the CSP press office on 020 7306 1111 or email pressoffice@csp.org.uk.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the UK’s professional, educational and trade union body. We have more than 54,000 members, including chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers.