THOUSANDS of health staff across the South West – including nurses, paramedics, cleaners, domestics and porters – are writing to the region’s 55 MPs asking them to back UNISON’s call for NHS staff to get an early pay rise in time for Christmas.

Staff employed in hospitals, clinics and ambulance stations across the South West are urging local politicians to put their case to the government for a significant pay rise of at least £2,000 for every worker across the NHS.

The NHS pay rise is due next April, but health workers, already worn out from the early stages of the pandemic, say bringing the increase forward would help staff feel more valued as the second wave surges.

UNISON South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: ‘Health workers across the region are exhausted from the first virus peak both emotionally and physically. They’re now facing a bleak few months with the second wave, a backlog of cancelled treatments on top of the annual winter pressures.’