Increasing number of NHS Hospital Trusts setting up food banks and hardship funds for struggling NHS staff
Cost of Living Crisis: Increasing number of NHS Hospital Trusts setting up food banks and hardship funds for struggling NHS staff
In recent weeks, there have been shocking reports of an increase in food banks being set up within NHS Hospitals for staff who are struggling with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Yet this does not end at food banks, hardship loans for staff are becoming increasingly common, and there have been discussions in various hospitals around setting up clothes banks and hygiene welfare packs among other initiatives to support staff and their families.
Along with increases in costs for fuel, bills and accommodation, NHS Staff will also have been hit by the recent rise in taxes for working people. We have seen the reintroduction of parking fees in hospitals (which were suspended during the pandemic), and staff are also being hit by only receiving very low mileage for work travel which has not been reviewed since 2014.
The Government are repeatedly offering their ‘gratitude’ to NHS Staff but that is simply not good enough, if they were truly grateful and recognised the efforts of this group of workers then they would ensure that they were not being driven into poverty.
1. The Cavell Nurses’ Trust, which supports UK Nurses, Midwives and Healthcare Assistants in financial crisis, has reported a 140 percent rise in the number of staff seeking help in 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. But let’s be clear, it is not just these groups of staff who are affected. The lowest paid NHS workers are having to be given an advance on this year’s pay award just so that the NHS does not fall foul of minimum wage legislation; this is a completely unacceptable situation.
Across the NHS, staff await details of their Annual Pay award which is now over two months late, due to the UK Government missing their own deadline to submit evidence to the Pay Review Body (PRB). Thousands of staff are leaving the NHS annually due to poor pay and conditions, and their despair at patient care being continually compromised. Now some staff cannot afford to put fuel in their car or feed their families, how much further will the Government continue to abuse this group of workers? GMB has submitted evidence to the PRB and is calling for a significant pay increase which would include a catch-up settlement to restore a decade of lost earnings, and a retention package which properly pays existing staff. This is not a reward for working throughout the pandemic, NHS staff are owed this after year on year of real-terms pay cuts leaving some up to £6,144 worse off annually due to wages simply failing to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
GMB London Region recognises its member's worth and is committed to fighting back against hardworking NHS Staff being left out of pocket, whilst continuing the conversation about how we can support them through this crisis.
Holly Turner
GMB London Region MDO
[1] One year on - can you help? - Cavell (cavellnursestrust.org)
