In October 2023, it emerged that the number of people waiting longer than 18 months for NHS treatment in England was growing. Data analysed by PA Media last month suggested that, despite recent decreases in the waiting list in England, it was still higher than when Sunak’s pledge was made. The list stood at 7.21m outstanding treatments in January 2023. In November, NHS England figures showed 7.61m treatments were yet to be carried out. NHS workers, many of whom have seen substantial pay cuts in real terms under Conservative governments, have been exercising their right to take industr…
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@9Q4HVGH7mos7MO
Raising pay won't reduce wait times only increasing staff numbers to avoid burnout and high turnover will help that.
@9NWCCZF8mos8MO
Raising NHS salaries has no bearing on wait times, but they should have their salaries raised regardless
@9Q3GSMD7mos7MO
It is not entirely around the salaries. We need to increase capacity as a whole with updated infrastructure, improved social programmes and a push to improve food quality intake.
@9PR954T7mos7MO
No why would paying them more reduce wait times are they suddenly going to be more efficient in their job?
@9NXJ8668mos8MO
Salaries should increase but more importantly working conditions need to be improved to stop healthcare professionals leaving.
@9NXB4D98mos8MO
This question and answer are not relative to each other. We deserve a wage rise, reflective of our skill set - this does not, however, impact upon wait times. Staff strikes to campaign for fair pay does had minimal impact on wait times.
Wait times are impacted by budget cuts imposed by the Govt, closure and privatisation of health and care services.
@9NVSVX3Conservative8mos8MO
How does increasing salaries reduce wait times. Need more staff so can they afford to increase wages and staff ?
@9PZMMR97mos7MO
The main problem is how overworked our doctors are. A good wage doesn't matter if you don't have a life to spend it on.
@9NXLFWHConservative8mos8MO
Invest in training and senior staff to run the nhs better. Too many inefficiencies in doctors surgery’s and hospitals are causing delays as well as non paying foreigners and over population.
@B2FDKGC1wk1W
No because raising wages won't make the wait times any less. If they were going to be more productive, they would already be doing that.
Yes but not to reduce wait times, they're key workers so they should receive more money for having an important job
@B2994NK2wks2W
That will not reduce wait times what really needs to happen is inefficient practices should be reduced as much as possible
@B296CSS2wks2W
The government should look to raise the average salaries by increasing lower-paid salaries by more than the higher-paid
@B28L8Q83wks3W
Remove the people who should not be here in the first place. Less people less wait times, less money spent on immigrants means more money for NHS workers.
Yes, and increase incentives for people to train in healthcare, such as bursaries and reduced training fees
@B26RSRFConservative1mo1MO
Yes but there should be a limit on the number of hours worked. Pay should therefore be an appropriate amount which recognises the hard working NHS staff and ensures they aren't struggling to pay bills because of the limited hours they can work.
@9ZZJBXG2mos2MO
Yes, NHS frontline staff should see pay rises to match real terms but this will not reduce waiting list times.
@9ZV4F9Y2mos2MO
Yes, and also increase the amount of workers and NHS sites around the country so people have more access to healthcare
@9ZTT4CQ2mos2MO
there needs to be more budget for employment and building new spaces within the hospital to lower wait times
@9WX5QX83mos3MO
Instead of raising salaries for NHS workers, the government should focus on recruiting more healthcare professionals to effectively reduce wait times for treatment.
@9VRP9734mos4MO
no relevance as they are professionals and only increasing the number of staff will reduce wait times.
@9T778PR5mos5MO
The NHS should be privatized so that it can support itself, without the government having to spend too much money on it.
@9SRXS6X5mos5MO
No, improve conditions by providing alternatives to the NHS and bring down immigration to reduce potential patient numbers
@9SBTMJP5mos5MO
Raise the salaries of NHS workers by 10% to attract more professionally qualified people who can work with patients in short times while organized.
@9RT5H6HConservative6mos6MO
I don't see the correlation. Surely to cut waiting times more staff is the answer, or less red tape.
@9R3D2LPConservative6mos6MO
Instead they should fund the creation of some private hospitals and treatment for the middle and upper classes/ those who can afford it ans encourage people into these hospitals until the current waiting times can be decreased massively due to the back log of covid and other problems on which then they should be converted to regular nhs hospitals but with improved budgets for the first few years.
NHS worker salaries need to be raised, but this will not reduce wait times. Further investment needs to be made in the number of NHS workers and NHS infrastructure to reduce wait times
@9QXRSPS6mos6MO
No, why should NHS workers who are mostly foreigners get more hours? Hire more staff, especially the British, and look after our own for a change perhaps?
@9QWDBPM6mos6MO
Yes, but to a realistic proportion. Some are asking for 30% pay rise. Have they not the merest understanding of economics? Such irresponsible decision making was the cause of the Winter of Discontent.
@9QTKDML7mos7MO
The two subjects are not connected - yes, salaries should be increased but the wait times are not a result of the salaries but rather because there are not enough trained professionals available to support the NHS since Brexit.
@9QLJPXK7mos7MO
This is too simplistic a response, the government should adopt a range of measures to reduce wait times
@9QLQ7PD 7mos7MO
Yes but lower the management and higher ups salaries and put that money into the underfunded sections.
@9QKHV5Y7mos7MO
The salaries should be increased for workers on the ground, not management. Waiting times rely on the quantity of staff available
@9QJM3RR7mos7MO
NHS workers had no pay rise for years. Government needs to create more hospitals and increase staffing to get waits down
@9QJ2FCD7mos7MO
NHS salaries should be paid according to working hours rather than standard rates. THey would be at par with other industries.
@9QHWKLD7mos7MO
Yes, and the government should run educational programs in schools that promote working in healthcare.
@9QHKPWW7mos7MO
There's no proof raising wages will reduce wait times. More, better trained staff should be the goal.
@9QGT2JC7mos7MO
No how is increasing their pay going to reduce waiting lists. Everyone chooses their career path and some are faced with more horrendous situations than others. It's ridiculous they NHS staff be allowed to strike. They need to take account of their actions and the state of the NHS / people's health. Would you see a soldier going on strike when they're in the middle if a war - No!!
NHS needs be stripped back and rebuilt. Get rid of pointless roles within the NHS and get more nurses.
@9QDVJWV 7mos7MO
Higher salaries are not the answer. You go into the NHS because you want a certain role. Not to get rich. I want good managers, protection from patients who abuse us.
@9QB94BJ7mos7MO
Increase wages and amount of healthcare staff in NHS and reduce the wages and amount of mangers and exucutive staff
@9QDDXZX7mos7MO
Raise the salaries for the betterment for appreciation - i dont believe raising salaries will reduce wait times
@9QCWC7V7mos7MO
Depends what current wage they're on and can they afford the necessities. Are their any other incentives?
This question does not make sense. More staff/clinical hours are needed to reduce wait times. But NHS workers should be paid more full stop!
@9QBVP9N7mos7MO
No, raising wages won't solve the problem alone, promoting education for qualified nurses and breaking down barriers will.
@9QBR8D47mos7MO
Some NHS workers are paid better than others and it is HOW money is used throughout the NHS which needs to be scrutinised
@9Q9VXQQ7mos7MO
Yes, by increasing pay for healthcare workers it will 1) reduce strikes which latter increases wait times and waiting lists, 2) encourage more people to apply for health care jobs, as people are put off from applying for these high responsibility jobs as they could get paid the same for less elsewhere
@9Q98P7J7mos7MO
Yes, but do this by getting rid of non-essential NHS jobs such as DEI places and things like 'Art Curator'.
@9Q93BS37mos7MO
The government should increase clinical NHS salaries to improve retention, they should also cap agency rates and fees for clinical workers
@9Q8NJJT7mos7MO
NHS staff should have more benefits, subsidised mortgages, travel etc.
This encourages people to join the NHS, andv also gives them perks and benefits. So no need to increased salary, but they receive benefits in other forms. So it's not costing the tax payer or government directly.
@9Q7Z36G7mos7MO
Yes if these workers who have taken the Hippocratic oath and understand this profess like teachers is a calling people should not die because of trade unions
@9Q7NM387mos7MO
Recognise GP/PCN staff/pharmacy staff etc. as NHS workers and provide them with an NHS contract e.g. correct banding for salaries and increase the salaries
@9Q7NLSZ7mos7MO
Yes but to reflect their experience, qualifications and critical service rather than just to reduce wait times
@9Q7MBYF7mos7MO
Increase salaries if that helps to attract more staff. Increasing salaries alone won't directly impact waiting lists. Additional resources would help though.
@9Q7JYSF7mos7MO
Jobs need to become available to UK nationals who train in the UK, and decrease the amount of staff coming from overseas
@9Q7D3JQ7mos7MO
More incentives of working for the nhs better organisation of company so less staff turnover. More staff
@9Q69BRH7mos7MO
Yes they should raise the salary but not to reduce wait times, because NHS workers deserve it. But the pay rises should be merit based, target driven and performance based such as bedside manner.
@9Q5YQGT7mos7MO
right action, wrong reason; the nhs workers should be paid more for every patient they treat, help or support
@9Q5QQ3R7mos7MO
The raising of salaries across the NHS is not the solution to the issue of wait time. There needs to be improvement in operational efficiency and a cultural change across the NHS.
@9Q5Q3ZH7mos7MO
They should be paid a price that is competitive to the world market so that they don't feel the need to be employed elsewhere. They should also reduce the salaries for agency workers so that this is not an attractive option either, and a drain on NHS financial resources.
@9Q5MMMP7mos7MO
They need to pay a fair wage and attract new doctors and nurses to fill the short fall, also better facilities
@9PY3K9N 7mos7MO
Yes but not for top doctors. NHS pay should not be so widely different between highest and lowest earners
No, go back to when nurses didn't need to go to uni and did training on the job , U would get more nurses, we have carers now instead of nurses
@9PW2SXY7mos7MO
I do not think this will solve the problem. They are unpaid for the work they do but it will take more than raising salaries.
@9PW3MV77mos7MO
Loaded question. Yes they should be paid appropriately, but there are only so many hours in the day. More staff is what is needed.
@9PS37QR7mos7MO
How will this resolve the problem we have too many people in this country, it's obvious waiting times will never be reduced.
@9PRD77C7mos7MO
NHS salaries should be increased and an end to agency workers should be implemented. Fair pay to the NHS, might give staff an incentive to stay.
@9PPGD6Z7mos7MO
Yes, but conditionally on providing equitably allocated rotas which operate 365 days a year and consider each day with equal value. No ‘weekends’ - just days.
@9PNQ6TC7mos7MO
I don't understand how this is supposed to work? NHS staff should absolutely be paid more, but most of them do not have enough hours in the day and are already burnout, I'm unsure how this is supposed to change that?
@9PNPMJQ7mos7MO
An increase of wages would not increase productivity and if it did that would mean the workers should be disciplined! Increased wages should only incentivise recruitment and retention of staff
@9PNNZHH7mos7MO
I don’t think the two things directly correlate. Salaries have nothing to do with the number of staff and appointment available in the first place
@9PNG9N4Conservative7mos7MO
Reduce executives salaries to free up funds to pay staff/increase staffing in NHS. All should pay in including people on benefits
@9PM73697mos7MO
Yes, but only for frontline staff, such as doctors, nurses, etc. Reduce the money going to management.
Raising salaries wont necessarily reduce wait times. We should focus on incentivising working for the NHS
@9PM2DJM7mos7MO
Raising salaries wont reduce wait times, hire more doctors/nurses. Or prioritise citizens and the most in need first.
@9PKK8KP7mos7MO
No, because it won’t make any difference. It will encourage more part/time GPs and give credence to the BMA who are really striking for political reasons
@9PK5YR37mos7MO
Yes, but the twisted and sick culture within the NHS also needs to be addressed. Focusing on fixing the environment and attitudes is the most important thing.
@9PJ6WVX7mos7MO
Only at lower income levels for example nurses. Consultants already have too much autonomy and control over the system with question.
People train to work in the NHS knowing the pay and long hours beforehand, don’t work in that sector if you don’t do the job for the love of helping people. I do however think they need more positive incentives to entice more young people to want to work in the NHS, so a pay increase could be the answer but based on hours worked, so longer hours, a higher pay bracket
@9PHM2647mos7MO
The question implies that NHS workers will work harder if they earn more. I would suggest raising their salaries AND recruiting new staff
@9PHJ3HZ7mos7MO
Salaries should rise with inflation as a minimum across all sectors by law. The NHS requires more funding not increasing the salaries of workers.
@9PGQB7Y7mos7MO
No, because I don't believe increasing wages would result in lower wait times. However, the wages should be increased.
@9PGN2XW7mos7MO
When NHS employees complain, they don’t have to work there! I know it’s harsh but they can work in other companies!
No - How does a higher salary equate to lower wait times. Fund more health care professionals instead
@9PDXWRW7mos7MO
No - Increasing wages won't reduce wait times. If people are over worked paying them more won't fix the issue of being over worked
@9PDXN5P7mos7MO
Working practices, resourcing and salaries all need to be reviewed. Frontline service providers are often under paid and over worked. Admin and financial roles should be made more efficient and reduced consistent with lower levels of bureaucracy. Junior doctors do not deserve further pay rises.
@9PDX3XW7mos7MO
i think more needs to be done in ensuring the safety of those in healthcare, as i believe this is why there are lower numbers, not necessarily pay scales
@9PC9RP87mos7MO
NHS workers should have an increase , but in its self will not be responsible for bringing wait times down
@9P8YGDD7mos7MO
I like the idea of lowering taxes for front line workers, encourage more Dr and nurses to go into the profession
Pay is low regardless for lower rung staff, however pay is unlikely to affect wait times. Senior doctors having benefitted from years of NHS funded training who do part time NHS and part time private to make more money should have to repay part of their training costs if they are not full time NHS
@9P8V5W27mos7MO
Raising salaries will not improve waiting times: removing time wasters would as would removing the sense of entitlement
@9P8P9DN7mos7MO
Increasing salary cannot possibly reduce wait times unless it results in more workers. The questions is over simplistic and does not resolve the issue
@9P8K7QY7mos7MO
Increase funding into people wanting to work within hospitals, make universities cheaper for those people
Increase tax band thresholds for public service workers up to a certain salary threshold, so they pay slightly less tax
@9P8H5DN7mos7MO
Raising salaries will not reduce waiting time. They need more staff, AND get rid of the dead heads who don’t care about the system. Every care worker I know is fat and smokes, spends far too much time sat in their car outside the patients house and not doing their job. It’s a joke!!
@9P8CXJ3Liberal Democrat7mos7MO
Whereas salary is an issue, these do not affect wait times — it is the mis-management of current resources (scheduling, occupancy, policies and procedures not fit for purpose) which causes appalling wait times.
@9P8C6ZP7mos7MO
Wages and wait times do not correlate. Individuals need to be better educated and be hold responsibility for their own health. Not make poor lifestyle choices and expect the nhs to keep them alive because of them.
@9P8BR7N7mos7MO
No, they should have enough money to employ more people and build more hospitals so that space is available.
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