The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has responded to reports that the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) has recommended an above-inflation pay rise of 5.5%. The PRB says this is in line with increases in private sector pay, that’s according to The Times today.

Thousands of hard-working midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been waiting with increasing frustration for their annual pay award, which was due on 1 April.

In June,  the RCM wrote to the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Akins to say that the delay was impacting the already eroded morale of its members. The RCM has since called on the new government to announce its members well overdue pay award without delay.

Commenting, RCM’s Director for Employment Relations, Alice Sorby, said: 

“Our members should have had their pay rises months ago, so its hopeful to hear that an announcement may be due, though this is speculation at this point. Pay is a crucial lever in retaining staff and right now, with the staffing retention issues blighting maternity services, the government should be doing all it can to hold on to midwives. I cannot stress enough how demoralising another year waiting has been for staff. We are calling on the new government to do the right thing and make this overdue announcement without any further delay.

“An above inflation pay award is the least our members deserve. However, the RCM would want any pay award to be fully funded by the government. This is what we told the PRB back in January.”

ENDS