PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has welcomed a pay deal with health unions today, saying that it is one that is affordable for the taxpayer.
He said: “The Government has reached agreement with unions representing over a million NHS workers on a fair and reasonable pay settlement.
“This agreement rightly recognises the fantastic work that our NHS workers like nurses, midwives and paramedics do whilst also being affordable for the taxpayer and allowing us to deliver on our promises to have inflation and cut NHS waiting lists.
“It’s a good example of this government getting things done and delivering for the British people.”
In an interview with Darren McCaffrey on GB News, he said: “I think no one can doubt our commitment to the NHS after I became Prime Minister.
“In the Autumn Statement, we announced £14 billion of more funding for the NHS and social care. That’s because it’s the country’s number one priority.
“It’s my number one priority and that’s why it’s well funded and we will make sure that we continue to deliver on our promise to cut waiting lists now that we’ve got this pay agreement.
“Everyone is united and wanting to deliver the best possible care for patients up and down the country and that will be our focus.”
Asked if the deal will be paid for by cuts to frontline services, the Prime Minister said: “No, absolutely not. We are going to be making sure that we protect all frontline services with £14 billion of more funding that we announced at the end of last year and no one can doubt our commitment to making sure that the NHS is well funded.
“That will always remain the case and we’ve got a great plan in place to make improvements. So you’re already seeing the results of that plan.
“In fact, if you look at ambulance waiting times or waiting times in A&E, they’re already improving considerably from a couple of months ago and we’re on track to keep bringing the waiting lists down and with this pay agreement.
“Now everyone is going to be united behind that and we can deliver really fantastic quality care for patients up and down the country. That’s what everyone in the NHS wants, they’re being backed fully to the hilt to deliver and I look forward to doing that for the country.”
He added: “I’m really pleased that we reached agreement today with unions representing over a million NHS workers and we’ve always been clear, we want to have constructive dialogue with unions, we’re serious about finding fair and reasonable agreements on public sector pay.
“I think today’s agreement demonstrates that and what I’d say to all other unions is, you know, please don’t be striking. Please come in and have those talks. We’ve been wanting to do that.
“Today’s agreement demonstrates we’re serious about it. We don’t want disruption for patients. We don’t want disruption for school children in our classrooms, so you know, please come and get around the table.
“I’m confident we can find a way through this. Today’s agreement demonstrates we’re serious about this and we can find workable solutions.”
On the cost of living crisis, he said: “The number one challenge with the cost of living is inflation, and particularly with energy bills, so if there’s one measure from the Budget that I’d ask people to kind of take away with them it’s our continued plan to support people with a cost of energy.
“Now what we did last year is make a decision to tax the windfall profits of energy companies and to use that money to help cut people’s energy bills.
“And because of the actions we’ve taken, people are going to receive £1,500 pounds of direct support off their energy bills last year and this.
“That’s the right thing to do and if there’s one thing you take away from the Budget it’s that this government is doing everything it can to help you with the cost of your energy bills.”
