Nurses have expressed their “utter dismay” at the Government’s proposed 3% pay increase and described the offer as “a big kick in the teeth”.

NHS staff claim they are dealing with a “massive haemorrhage” of workers following the pandemic and said the proposal was insulting.

Hundreds of medical workers, both past and present, took to the streets on Friday and marched to Downing Street in protest of the deal.

Demonstrators gathered outside St Thomas’ hospital in central London before making their way across Westminster bridge to Whitehall.

Some held banners with slogans saying “Save our NHS from the Tories” and called for the Prime Minister to listen.

Nurse Janet Maiden described the pay increase as “not significant enough” and the resulting staff shortages as “criminal”.

“It’s a big kick in the teeth because we know and we’ve heard and seen that there’s money in the system,” she told the PA news agency, speaking outside Downing Street.

Janet Maiden speaks to health workers
Janet Maiden speaks to health workers (PA Video/PA)

“I think people naively thought, especially when they saw Boris Johnson naming the nurses who cared for him … that he might change his mind, so, yes, it is a real insult.

“Three per cent is not significant enough for us, I’m afraid.

“People are voting with their feet and leaving the health service, and that’s criminal.”

David Carr added: “I was in utter dismay, we’re dealing with a massive haemorrhage of staff from the NHS, huge vacancies among nurses and other grades of staff.

Health workers in Downing Stree
Health workers in Downing Street (PA Video/PA)

“Three per cent is not going to rectify the historic crisis of staffing inside the NHS.”

He added: “Personally, I felt kicked in the teeth, I felt insulted after what we’ve done with both waves of Covid to be offered 3%, I found it really depressing.

“It took the wind out of my sails and made me sad.”

Others called on the Prime Minister to take further action following the proposal announcements.

Addressing Boris Johnson directly, nurse Shelley Pearce said: “Get your finger out and listen to the people and do what you are supposed to be doing.

“You’re currently out on your jollies, having your summer holidays and people in this country are continually dying because of policy decisions you have made.

“Get round a table, listen to people in parliament and correct some of the lies made at the despatch box.”