York's most experienced nurses could quit the NHS unless the Government acts to boost their pay, a staff leader warned today.

Alison Sayers, the chairwoman of the city's branch of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), called on the new Health Secretary Alan Milburn to fulfil a pledge by his York-born predecessor Frank Dobson to pay special attention to the issue this year.

The RCN today warned the NHS was in danger of losing its "backbone" as it launched its evidence to the profession's Pay Review Body.

It said last year's 12 per cent pay boost to newly-qualified nurses improved recruitment, but did nothing to persuade the more experienced E Grade nurses to stay in the profession.

They got 4.7 per cent, which the RCN says is £6 to £8 per week in real terms. An independent survey carried out by the RCN found almost three-quarters of nurses believed they could be paid more for less effort if they left nursing, and better pay was the single most important factor that would encourage Grade E nurses to stay in the profession.

Mrs Sayers said E Grade nurses were the ones that took the brunt and kept units working during crises in York, and the prospect of them leaving the NHS was not an "idle threat".

She added: "A lot were tempted last year, and I think a lot of them would go if they don't get a substantial pay deal this year.

"Looking back at last year's pay awards, people were absolutely delighted they had increased starting salaries because we were losing a lot of nurses and not getting them in.

"But they were extremely disappointed that they didn't look at the E Grade salary as well."

She said there now only a small pay gap between some less experienced nurses and the E Grade. She had reassured colleagues at meetings in York that Mr Dobson had promised to look at E Grade salaries this year, and she hoped Mr Milburn would fulfil that pledge.

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