The NHS marks its 73rd birthday today, following what must be the most tumultuous and unprecedented year in its history.
We will always gracefully accept the awards and plaudits that come our way: the latest being the George Cross from the Queen. This is only the third time the award for ‘greatest heroism’ has been awarded to anything other than an individual, and so the NHS joins Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary in this rare list.
However, as with the weekly Clap for Carers which was then renamed Clap for Heroes, most NHS staff do not need these acts of symbolism, which feel increasingly hollow against a back drop of 40,000 nurse vacancies and the derisory 1% pay offer that has been mooted by Boris Johnson.
Whilst we accept the government and Buckingham Palace are not the same institutions, it is hard to separate well intentioned gestures when staff are desperate for the practical recognition that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Branch secretary Nick McMaster says:
“I’ve seen how hard my colleagues on the front line of mental health services have been working to provide care for our patients in services and buildings that were never set up to deal with a pandemic. I’ve seen how hard those supporting front line colleagues have had to adapt.
“Whilst staff have never come into the NHS because of the wages, a decent and proper pay rise is a tangible sign that the government recognises NHS staff, not as heroes, but as professional, dedicated and skilled workers.”
