REGARDING the recently-announced pay rise for nurses employed in the NHS, as an ex-nurse, I must criticise the allocation of this and any future pay increase.

While I applaud the pay rise wholeheartedly for front-line nurses - student nurses, staff nurses and ward sisters, who need and deserve a substantial increase - I strongly disagree that for the hierarchy of the nursing profession, the nursing officers, senior nursing officers, directors of nursing services and upwards.

These nurses, who chose to go into administration, are very highly paid as it is and should not be included in the increase.

There should be a cut-off point after the rank of ward sister.

After all, 4.7 per cent of £30-34,000 is quite a considerable rise, whereas 4.7 per cent of £15-17,000 is negligible in comparison and will be very quickly eaten up when paying off bank loans or debt incurred while training.

Also, I have to ask if the Government got it right. While giving new student nurses a 12 per cent increase, should they not also be considering retaining the already qualified nurses and award more than 4.7 per cent?

PETER HENNIGAN, Sunnyhurst Road, Blackburn.

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