Jeannette Martin, ­director, Royal College of Nursing South West Region, writes:

The RCN is asking the public to sign a petition demanding an end to the one per cent cap on nurses’ pay.

Public sector pay restraint has seen nurses’ wages drop in real terms by 14 per cent since 2010.

It was announced recently that MPs would receive a ­further 1.4 per cent pay raise this year. That means MPs will have received pay increases amounting to nearly 14 per

cent since 2010, and yet the Government has maintained a one per cent pay cap on NHS staff, who work long shifts ­during unsociable hours trying to keep the nation healthy.

Nurses enjoy a diverse and rewarding career that really makes a difference, but they must be wondering exactly what they have to do to merit a pay award that reflects the value of their work.

There are currently 24,000 nurse vacancies across the UK. Our NHS is already struggling to cope with hospital bed ­shortages, long waiting times and understaffed wards.

More than ever, the Government should be encouraging people to consider nursing as a career and ensuring nursing staff do not leave. The evidence is strong that nurse numbers have a direct impact on patient health.

The RCN needs to collect 100,000 signatures for Parliament to consider nurses’ pay for debate. By signing, readers could make a real ­difference. The petition can be found at www.rcn.org.uk/ nursingcounts.