Text and photos by Laura Blaha and Thomas Brandes
Islington residents this week deemed the government’s pay rise promises to senior NHS staff unfair.
After the government promised on Tuesday to raise NHS consultant’s wages by 20%, residents in the area complained it is unbalanced in comparison to 5% raises to nurses.
Renato Hellawell, 52, fashion aesthetician, said “They [nurses] should get more.”
About the nurses’ striking action throughout the year he says: “I know the ICU is looked after, but every other treatment can wait, non-essential ones.”
The nurses’ strike that commenced one year ago only culminated in a 5% pay rise deal in March that was refuted by nurses, but enforced anyway by the government, looking for a rapid conclusion to the dispute.
Winston Farrow, administrative staff at Islington Community Health Centre, commented: “I think there should be an equal raise for staff, whether nurse or consultant. I think it’s unfair.”
A couple on their way to yoga class, Edward Costello, 35, and Amanda Riley, 34, stated they “support a strike if people think they’re being paid unfairly, but I don’t know how much they get paid”.
Senior NHS staff at Islington GP Federation declined to comment on the topic.
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