Nurses and healthcare assistants from across the East of England sent a clear message to government this week that their pay needs to rise.
The Royal College of Nursing's #scrapthecap rally in London saw thousands of RCN members descend on Parliament Square in their battle to remove the cap which has limited their annual pay increases to just 1pc.
Speakers said the pay cap was putting patients at risk, with 40,000 nursing posts vacant and staff being pushed out due to low pay.
Eileen Raynes-White, operational manager for RCN Eastern, said: 'Experienced nursing staff are leaving in droves - not because they don't like the job, but because they can't afford to stay, while the next generation do not see their future in an under-valued profession.
'If the Government fails to announce a change of direction in the budget, then industrial action by nursing staff immediately goes on the table.'
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