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“BORIS JOHNSON OWES HIS LIFE TO THE NHS AND HAS SHOWN NOTHING BUT DISREGARD FOR THE WORKERS. HE’S TRULY KICKED US WHEN WE ARE DOWN.“

Comment by Rhian Bethell, Welsh NHS Nurse

On April 5th 2020 I tested positive for Covid-19, a few days before my daughter’s fourth birthday. Her birthday was spent without me kissing her, cwtching her or even saying happy birthday to her face. I spent her special days 30 miles away from her because I was the biggest risk to her and my family. 

Nearly a year on I am struggling with the after effects of Covid. I have been diagnosed with Long Covid, have been off work for around three months and struggle with the simplest of tasks. My physical and mental health have taken a huge hit and I don’t know if I will recover fully.

Doing my job as an NHS nurse in Wales has altered my life, and not in a positive light. It is a job I get paid £12.06 an hour to do. My responsibilities include but aren’t limited to: triaging patients, administering medication, providing personal care, engaging with the multi disciplinary team, monitoring observations and neurological observations, blood transfusions… the list goes on. 

A medication will be prescribed by a doctor however if that drug is incorrect a nurse will face the disciplinary or could even be struck off the register. We are accountable for all that we do.

For £12.06 an hour I am responsible for the lives of other people, I could drive a train and be paid a higher wage. The last year Covid has affected healthcare in so many ways, and NHS staff have stepped up to the mark, many paying the ultimate price and losing their lives.

Yet the UK government believe we are worthy of a 1% increase, it’s a slap in the face. There are 100,000 vacancies in our NHS, there is little recruitment and retention and patient safety is compromised. One third of NHS staff are ready to leave. NHS staff are relying on credit cards, overtime and food banks to survive, yet still manage to care for patients to the highest possible standards. 

Yet again myself and my reliable, exhausted and drained NHS co-workers have been forgotten, batted off to the side like the dirt off a rugby boot. We are angry, frustrated and this 1% figure is totally and utterly disgraceful. When the country stayed at home we went to work.

The strength and courage shown by my colleagues up and down the country has been world class, and our government has again taken advantage of the good nature and resilience shown. Boris Johnson owes his life to the NHS and has shown nothing but disregard for the workers. He’s truly kicked us when we are down. 

Up and down the country there is disappointment, sadness, but also anger at the 1%. Now is the time for industrial action, for unions to ballot and the workers to strike!

We can’t and won’t tolerate this anymore. We are well overdue a pay rise and one that reflects not just inflation but our skills and responsibilities too.

I do sit and wonder if we could spend the claps from the government at Tesco? Or even sell the badges Matt Hancock so proudly wears. 

Silly me, they are just worthless empty gestures. 

NHS staff are worth more than fake government claps, NHS badges and 1% pay rises!!

Rhian is a nurse in South Wales and is part of Nurses United CLT.

She requested for the fee for this article to be sent to the British Gas strike fund.