The NHS must find the money to fund an extra £2bn of the staff pay bill, after the government decided to increase it beyond the 3% rise that was budgeted for.

We discuss the impact this is likely to have on services and also why a particular group of senior managers are particularly demoralised.

Also this week: An HSJ investigation has highlighted the horrendously long waits faced by mental health patients while waiting for an inpatient bed in A&E. We talk more about how the health service got to this point and what should be done about it.

Link to investigation: Exclusive: ‘Outrageous’ long A&E waits for mental health patients increase 150pc | News | Health Service Journal (hsj.co.uk)

The pay award quirk that could be the final straw