Nurses across Ayrshire, along with other NHS workers snubbed in the government's pay rise last month, are protesting today.

Health care staff from across the region are to take part in a static protest as part of the NHS Workers Say No campaign.

Last month, the UK Government announced a pay rise for some public sector workers.

On July 21, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced above inflation pay rises for doctors, teachers and police officers, notably excluding nurses.

An Ayrshire nurse and spokesperson for Nurses Say No, affiliated with the UK-wide protest, said: "Myself and my nurse colleagues have finally had enough of being grossly underpaid and the recent announcement of a pay rise for other medical professionals has driven us to take action."

Cumnock Chronicle: (Yui Mok/PA)(Yui Mok/PA)

Today, August 8, a socially distanced and mandatory mask-wearing protest will be held at Glasgow Green from 11am til 2pm.

As part of the UK wide NHS Workers Say No protests, the Ayrshire nurse, who must remain anonymous, will be travelling with colleagues from across the West of Scotland to take part in what is an unprecedented move.

The campaign describes the Government's action as "a massive slap in the face, slapped by the hand that once clapped for us."

The Ayrshire spokesperson said: "There was that little bit of hope that for once, through all of this, nurses have finally been seen as a worthy group of people rather than people who will always just be there to pick up the pieces.

"But I do think the public perception of us has changed through his. They are more understanding of what we do, and the pressures we’re under and how traumatic our jobs can be."

Cumnock Chronicle: (Yui Mok/PA)(Yui Mok/PA)

Nurses pay currently falls below inflation rates. The Nurses Say No spokesperson said this effectively means they get poorer each year.

Junior doctors, hospital porters and cleaners and job centre workers were also not included in the latest pay rise deal.

Supporters and those attending the protest are asked to share their photos to social media with the hashtags #NHSfairpay and #fairpayforcarers.

For more information visit the protest event page here.

Speaking ahead of the a march by NHS workers in London, Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said: “Nursing staff and other allied health professionals have reacted with anger to being overlooked when pay rises were given to many in the public sector last week and the Government not hearing the health trade unions’ call to bring their pay rise forward from April 2021.

“This sense of anger was heightened, especially in light of their work and sacrifices during the global pandemic which has taken the lives of more than 500 NHS and social care staff across the UK.”

Cumnock Chronicle: NHS workers march from St Thomas’ Hospital to Downing Street (Yui Mok/PA)NHS workers march from St Thomas’ Hospital to Downing Street (Yui Mok/PA)

In response to the claims that social care workers and nurses have been snubbed, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "These past few months have been an incredibly challenging time for our NHS, and the resolve, professionalism and dedication of staff has been on show throughout.

"We are able to accept the recommendations of the independent pay review body for dentists and doctors.

"I am committed to supporting the entire NHS and social care workforce through improved recruitment and retention and delivering 50,000 more nurses and 6,000 more doctors in general practice.”