Mike Travis

Pay body not free to do its job

Tory ministers should come clean on how they enforce the public sector pay cap of 1%.

Don't blame Brussels.

Nadine Dorries claims that now we are leaving the EU we will have more control of our health service. She alludes to nursing staff enjoying better pay without the constraints from Brussels (opinion, 13 July).

Shout louder about poor pay

It seems increasingly clear to me that the NHS pay campaign is not making waves either in the NHS or with the public.

Privatisation has failed to improve care of older people

Legislation in 1990 allowed local authorities to farm out the care of older people to private sector providers. The problems at the UKs largest care home firm Southern Cross (news June 8) demonstrate the perils of pursuing such a policy and proves the government is wrong in arguing that services can be improved by privatising them.

NHS pension reforms will not create two-tier system.

Ian Birkinshaws concerns about the creation of a two-tier NHS pension scheme are likely to reflect the views of others (careers January 11).

Some things never change

I thought this cartoon would first published in the be very appropriate for Nursing Standards Making Time campaign.

Drop the histrionics and face the facts

In the fallout after the scandal at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, I am incredulous at the attitude of Professor Christopher Maggs (Letters July 1).

Banking on casuals devalues all nurses

An increasing number of NHS trusts are ripping off nurses by using bank staff inappropriately to save cash. They use the bank as a way of not paying overtime, of employing nurses in permanent bank contracts and of getting more work for less.