Welsh NHS: 'No ceiling' for possible pay rise, says minister

A section read: "The government announced a pause in public sector pay rises for all workforces, with an exception for employees with basic full-time equivalent salaries of £24,000 or under and for the NHS".

On Friday, Mr Gething said Welsh NHS workers "deserved a pay rise".

In its submission to the NHS pay review body, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the total NHS budget was based on a headline pay award of 1% for staff. "The economic outlook for 2021/22 remains uncertain and pay awards must be both fair and affordable".

"NHS staff have worked throughout the darkest days in health service history". Asked whether the Government had considered mirroring the Scottish administration's decision to offer a one-off bonus of £500 to NHS staff this year, he said: "That isn't the approach that we have chosen to take here".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also criticised the proposed pay deal, which would amount to a pay cut in real terms. "Give our Covid heroes a pay rise".

The Royal College of Nursing, who have called for a 12.5% pay increase for nurses, said a 1% pay rise would amount to only an extra £3.50 a week in take home pay for an experienced nurse.

"But I think it is important to note that the priority of the government has been about protecting people's livelihoods, about continuing the furlough scheme, about fighting the pandemic, and we've put huge effort into that".

The government "will continue to provide pay rises for NHS workers", despite the wider freeze on pay in the rest of the public sector, the spokesperson said.

"Staff will think it's some kind of joke", said Gorton.

Inflation is now at 0.9%, but other unions pointed to forecast inflation of 1.5% this year to claim a 1% pay rise for NHS staff would actually amount to a real terms pay cut.

"We're waiting to see the outcome of the pay review body and we expect to publish the evidence we've provided to that pay review body if not today then in the very near future", he said.

The 1% proposal was defended by business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on BBC One's Question Time last night.

"When I look at people in the hospitality sector, in aviation, in retail, many of them are very, very anxious they won't even be in a job in two or three months".

"Nurses, midwives, porters, cleaners and other health workers are upset, hurt and angry".