You have to pay nurses, the patient tells Sunak during the hospital visit

Rishi Sunak was confronted by a patient about nurses’ pay during a visit to a hospital in Croydon.

Catherine Poole, a 77-year-old patient recovering from surgery, gave a short lecture to the Prime Minister when he arrived for a chat on her ward.

The south Londoner, who told him she hoped to leave home at Croydon University Hospital in south London in the coming days, was asked by Mr Sunak how the hospital’s nurses were looking after her.

As Mr Sunak crouched down to speak to her, she could be heard telling the Prime Minister about the pay for nurses.

“You have to pay them,” Ms Poole told the Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak, wearing a mask as he visited the hospital, said his government was trying.

“You’re not trying, you have to try harder,” she told him.

Mr Sunak went on to say that the NHS is important.

“Yes, and take care of it,” Mrs. Poole told him.

Thousands of nurses across the country are currently voting to leave as health workers demand a pay rise amid rising inflation.

The NHS could also be in line for further budget tightening as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt looks at ways to plug a multi-billion pound fiscal black hole.

Mr Sunak dodged a question about nurses’ pay when he was pushed by broadcasters following the exchange.

Asked if he was pleased that nurses were not getting a real pay rise, he said: “It’s brilliant to be here at Croydon Hospital to see the great work of the doctors and nurses here.

“One of my government’s priorities will be to tackle the Covid backlog and support the NHS.

“We face many challenges as a country, but I am confident that we can fix the economy and deliver on the 2019 manifesto promise, including having a stronger NHS.”

Mr. Sunak received a more positive reaction from other patients.

At a bedside, Sreeja Gopalan, 46, told him: “I’m waiting to see you.”

“I’m proud of you,” she said, as she took a selfie with the prime minister.