Campbell accuses Government of failing health service workers
During Prime Minister's Questions today, Ming Campbell challenged Tony Blair to explain why nurses in England and Wales are not getting their full pay increase up front (as they are in Scotland). He also lambasted him for failing health care workers in general, including newly qualified nurses who can't get jobs, junior doctors and nursing assistants hit by the budget. The Royal College of Nursing has threatened to ballot its members on industrial action unless ministers reverse their decision to award nurses an "insulting" below-inflation pay deal. Nurses at the annual conference voted 97% in favour of investigating what forms of action could be taken.