James Westhead reports on the cost of the claim

The RCN says an independent survey of nurses, presented to the NHS pay review body, shows pay is "the single most important factor" likely to make nurses stay in the NHS.

It wants staff nurses' salaries to be increased by 17% - to �15,012 - to bring it into line with that of new teachers.

The college says the investment would save cash in the long run as millions of pounds are wasted on temporary staff to fill shortages at the moment.

It says the urgency of the nurses' pay issue means the �21bn NHS package announced earlier this year should be used to fund a substantial pay rise.

The RCN survey, Changing Times, shows that NHS employers in England spent �192m on agency nurses and �41m on recruitment advertising in 1996/7.

Newly qualified nurses are the most unhappy about pay with 86% who qualified since 1996 saying they could be paid more money if they left nursing.

New nurses 'must double'

One in three nurses said more pay would make the difference between them staying or leaving the profession.

The RCN says the number of nurses entering the profession needs to double by 2011 to meet demand.

Statistics show that every year in the 1990s fewer and fewer nurses are joining the profession.

Christine Hancock of the RCN: "It is a long-term problem"

General Secretary of the RCN, Christine Hancock, said: "Changing Times shows that pay is a real issue for nurses. In the survey, nurses in the health service tell us that better pay is the single most important factor likely to make them stay.

"Rather than wasting millions on employing agency nurses and recruitment advertising, the government must act on nurses' pay - the most immediate and effective way to tackle nurse shortages."

The RCN's call for more money is backed by NHS managers. The Institute of Health Services Management says low morale pay is the reason for nursing shortages.

It believes pay is not the only factor, but says it is an important one.

It also confirms the high level of agency staff working in the NHS and says this "could compromise patient care".

Big rise unlikely

Despite reports that the government wants to increase the starting salary for nurses, it is unlikely nurses will receive a big pay rise across the board.

Frank Dobson: Keeping silent on across the board pay rise

The Health Secretary, Frank Dobson, steered clear of any specific reference to a pay rise in his speech to the Labour Party Conference.

Although health ministers have admitted that pay is an important factor in NHS staff morale, they say pay rises have to be fair as well as affordable.

Many of the recent steps on NHS reform have been aimed at allowing some senior nurses more pay and improving conditions for the rest, such as offering flexible working hours.

The government has pledged to increase the number of nurses working in the NHS by 15,000 over the next three years.

It plans to have 2,000 extra nurses in place by 1999.

Health minister Alan Milburn said: "Of course nurses should have a pay rise but it has to be both fair and affordable.

"Some nurses are earning much more than others. One in three full-time, qualified, nurses now earn over �20,000 a year. On average, nurses earn �18,000.