Nurses have demanded a "substantial" pay rise and for starting salaries to be brought into line with those of police and teachers.

A newly-qualified nurse is paid �16,005 a year - some 10% less than teachers and 14% less than police officers.

Nursing unions say the gap is unfair and explains why few people choose to enter the profession.

Too many nurses are working for agencies or in bars to earn extra money in order to exist

Maggie Dunn Staff Side

In their annual submission to the independent body which recommends on nurses pay, the unions called for the gap to be closed.

They have also demanded pay hikes for nurses working in higher grades.

They said pay progression for nurses is below that of teachers and police officers.

In their report, the unions said the disparity was responsible for low morale among nurses who felt they were not valued.

The unions also want higher pay for non-registered nurses, whose salary starts at �9,735.

They suggested that cleaners in parts of the private sector earn substantially more than many nurses.

'Survival'

Maggie Dunn, chair of Staff Side - the umbrella body representing nursing unions - acknowledged that the gap was unlikely to be closed in one foul swoop.

The Pay Review Body recommended a 3.6% increase for nurses this year - far short of the 10% hike needed to bring starting salaries into line with those of teachers.

Ms Dunn said nurses were underpaid

But Ms Dunn said: "We are looking to close the gap.

"I think it is unlikely that the Review Body will make that leap in one year. It might be done in small steps but we are hoping the gap will be closed over time."

Ms Dunn added that the current starting salary for nurses meant many found it difficult to survive.

"Newly-qualified nurses are now, wherever they live in the UK, unable to get a mortgage to buy a home.

"Many nurses cannot afford to take a holiday and many cannot afford to buy their own car.

"Too many nurses are working for agencies or in bars to earn extra money in order to exist."

Josie Irwin of the Nursing and Midwifery Council said nurses expected the pay gap with teachers and police to be reduced.

"We would certainly be looking for an above inflation pay increase.

"It is absolutely vital to the health services reform to attract nurses into the profession and keep those we've got," she told the BBC.

New pay structure

The Nursing unions are currently in negotiations with the Department of Health on new pay structures for nurses.

Those discussions are expected to be completed before the end of the month. It is anticipated that the new pay arrangements will include a higher starting salary and greater financial rewards for nurses.

However, unions have warned that any agreement will not come into effect until 2004.

Ms Dunn said the Pay Review Body - which could report by the end of this year - needed to begin the process of boosting nurses' pay.

"We are very, very hopeful that the negotiations around pay modernisation will be completed by the end of the month and we are confident that nursing staff will benefit," she said.

"That is not going to affect pay for next year but this is an ideal opportunity for the Review Body to start closing the gap recommending a substantial pay award for nurses."