Nurses to debate strike over pay

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On the eve of the RCN's annual conference, Dr Peter Carter said nurses felt "angry", "despondent" and "worried" about their own futures and the future of the NHS.

And while he said it was clear parts of the NHS had improved under Labour, he said taxpayers' money had "been wasted" on "overpaid" management consultants and turnaround teams for failing trusts. The £22 million spent on turnaround teams between January 2006 and March 2007 was "shameful", he added.

Dr Carter urged the Government to "get real" over nurses pay, which they have described as a "slap in the face".

Nurses will debate an emergency motion on Tuesday demanding the recommendations of the independent pay review body are implemented in full from this month.

The body recommended a 2.5% annual increase but the Government angered unions by staging the increase. A below-inflation 2.5% increase for health staff is being paid in two stages - this month and November - effectively worth less than 2% a year.

Dr Carter said: "The average nurse or health worker does not want strike action but because of the Government's actions it's making them think like that."

Commenting on the fact the RCN has not invited any politician to congress this year, he said: "It was pointless bringing someone from Government in because of how badly they have treated nurses and other health workers."

Last year, Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, had her speech drowned out by jeering nurses in unprecedented scenes.

Dr Carter also warned that when the extra investment in the NHS comes to an end next year, the progress already made could be "reversed or lost altogether". And he said, despite the extra cash, parts of the NHS were still in debt. "We have to say something has gone fundamentally wrong with this massive investment," he added.