Oh dear! Kingston Hospital has just realised that there is a shortage of qualified nurses - a fact known to nurses for several years - and sees a way to "lure" nurses to come to work for them. Unfortunately, Mr Langan seems not to have thought his little plan through.

It seems the 10 per cent increase in pay will apply only to new staff, and not to those already employed. Not only is this patently unfair, it is also probably illegal. There is legislation which requires employers to give equal pay for work of equal value, and I expect the RCN and UNISON will be pursuing this matter through the appropriate channels.

Perhaps more serious is the effect on individual nurses who have been working at Kingston Hospital for some time. They have had to deal with the shortage of nurses and with various government- imposed ideas and, in the main, are feeling undervalued and unappreciated. To now be told that newly recruited staff will be paid more than they receive is likely to lead to resignations and the consequent loss of experienced nurses.

I'm sorry to have to tell John Langan that his little idea is very likely to backfire and cause worse problems. Problems will increase as the number of qualified nurses falls ever lower.

Di Landon RGN ONC

Verona Drive, Surbiton

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.