Royal College of Podiatry gives additional evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body

The Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) has given additional evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) to supplement the written evidence it submitted in January.

RCPod Head of Employment Relations, Martin Furlong, has told the PRB that the time has come for meaningful pay rises in the NHS and that podiatrists in the health service face a lack of pay and career progression, together with the pressures of increased staff shortages.

"Our survey showed that podiatrists in the NHS are becoming more disillusioned than ever following the extra pressures of COVID, soaring inflation and the proposed changes to pension contributions. Take the rising costs for fuel, especially for those who use their vehicles to visit patients, along with years of below-inflation pay rises, and you can see why members say they have had enough".

Delivering his evidence to the PRB, Martin Furlong also pointed out that record numbers of graduates opt to work in the private sector straight after finishing university for better pay, putting more strain on the NHS.

The PRB is due to make its recommendation on 2022 pay to the government at the end of May.