This petition requests that NHS frontline staff working directly and supporting the fight against COVID19 should be given an immediate pay rise and then all NHS pay should be reassessed and at the very least increased to be in line with inflation. NHS Staff, risking their health and in some cases their lives by going to work on the frontline today will be earning as little as £18,005 per year and with nurses starting on only £24,907 per year, this doesn’t even take into account the outsourced cleaning staff who do not receive a living wage. They will not be compensated for replacing shoes they have to throw away after becoming contaminated, for having to wash their uniforms every day and in many cases sourcing their own PPE to ensure their teams are safe. The trauma they will have to endure is something that thankfully few of us will have to experience in our lifetimes but they will do this just because it is their job. We as a society should show them how much we value them and demand this government compensate them adequately.

They have been underfunded and overworked for too long and yet they will fight this pandemic without hesitation and save many lives whilst doing so, let’s ensure they know that they their hard work, courage and selflessness doesn’t go unnoticed and society finally views them in line with other celebrities, footballers, bankers, CEOs and those who are generously compensated for their talents.

In the meantime we will stay home to protect our NHS.