Trust 2,000th London Living Wage employer

The Trust has become the 2,000th public body to be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation. That means a commitment to pay all staff at least the London Living Wage, including staff working at the Trust employed by our partners.

The Trust announced the decision to pay the London Living Wage in October of last year.

Lesley Watts, CEO, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, was invited to speak at the launch of Living Wage Week. She said: “We’re delighted to have received this accreditation but also congratulate all the other organisations who have committed to the London Living Wage with us.

“Around our hospitals, we are a team. Whether we are employed by the Trust, or our partners it has to be one team. We rely on each other. And that means we need to be fair to each other.

“This year has been challenging. People have talked this year about key workers, so let me tell you about some of our key workers: 

• Before the pandemic, during the pandemic, these are the people who keep our hospitals clean and our infection rates low
• Who provide food and drink to keep us, patients and visitors going
• Who keep us safe and secure
• Who bring things we need to where we work
• Who help move our patients to where they need to be
• Who care for us and our patients and our colleagues

“Walking round the hospital I see our staff work hard, cheerfully and professionally even under the most difficult circumstances.

“That’s why I am delighted that we adopted the London Living Wage a year ago and we are now accredited, a sign of our commitment.”