UNISON calls for parliamentary debate on proposed NMC fees rise

Plans by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to raise fees for nurses and midwives by 20% to £120 should be dropped right now, said UNISON the UK’s largest health union.  Branding the rise as “unfair and disproportionate”, the union is calling for a parliamentary debate on the proposal to be a priority, following news that an online petition exceeded the 100,000 signatures target.
 
Commenting on the NMC fees consultation being launched today (8 May), Gail Adams UNISON Head of Nursing, said:
 
“It is grossly unfair and disproportionate to expect nurses and midwives to find 20% more to pay their registration fees. The vast majority will not be getting a pay rise this year and this is on top of a three-year pay freeze and squeeze.
 
“UNISON will be conducting its own consultation and there are serious questions to answer.  Less than 1% of nurses have their fitness to practice called into question and yet the NMC spends 77% of registration fees on managing such investigations.”
 
Delegates to UNISON’s Annual Healthcare Conference in April voted overwhelmingly to oppose the rise in fees and to investigate the impact of the proposed rise on part-time workers and on workforce planning.
 
Gail Adams, went on to say:
 
“It was made crystal clear at our Conference that members felt a 20% rise in fees would be grossly unfair, when nurses have suffered an average 10% cut in the value of their pay since 2010.
 
“The rise in fees may also put off many older nurses who retire but who return to work on a part-time basis. Nurses and midwives simply cannot afford to be held to ransom by this increase and the NHS and patients cannot afford to lose so much valuable skill and experience from the service.”
 
Throughout the consultation period UNISON will be working closely with the RCN & RCM.

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