PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to UK Statistics Authority letter on nurse pay confirming that government had been “misleading” and “exaggerated” [November 2022]

The press release issued by the RCN on 29 November 2022.

In response to a UK Statistics Authority letter on nurse pay confirming that government had been “misleading” and “exaggerated”, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:

“This is a damning letter that warrants an official response from Steve Barclay without delay.

“Sir Robert Chote has used the strongest terms here to cut through the government’s spin. Ministers have been found out and need to come clean.

“The government’s figures did not fool nursing staff who are sharing very difficult stories of personal financial hardship. A new and honest debate on nursing pay should show how experienced nurses have lost 20% in real terms in the last decade.”