Hundreds of NHS workers took part in protests across the country demanding fair pay over the weekend.
Around 200 frontline workers gathered in Falcon Square on Saturday as part of the Inverness for NHS Pay Justice protest.
Protesters claim nursing staff wages have been slashed by 20% since 2010, prompting them to take a stand and demand a 15% pay increase to maintain the stability of the health service.
During the demonstration they raised concerns about the significant pay gap as well as ongoing worries about patient safety, and campaigned that their dedication throughout the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for better conditions.
Organiser Louise Maclean said she was overwhelmed by the turn-out and admitted she never thought in her nursing career that she would be forced to take such drastic action.
She said: “We had no idea how it would turn out but it was an incredible day actually.
“We had the nurses speaking and they did themselves so proud. They stepped up, out of their comfort zone for public speaking and highlighted about the 20% wage cuts since 2010 and also about their worries for patient safety.”
The event was one of dozens of protests taking place across the country, campaigning for government officials to step up and recognise the hard work of health officials across the board, particularly during the pandemic.
Ms Maclean added: “We have all stepped up. We have all been asked to work out with our different comfort zones and work in different areas we haven’t been trained on but everybody has come together.
“We know there is going to be a second wave so I think not giving them a pay rise but asking them to go in when we have reduced numbers of PPE, it’s just a bit of a slap in the face from the government that we are having put our lives at risk.”
