More than one million NHS staff in England and Wales – including nurses, paramedics and midwives – will get a pay rise of at least £1,400, with lowest earners to receive up to 9.3%. That means the average basic pay for nurses will increase from around £35,600 to around £37,000.
The Government has accepted the recommendations in full from the independent NHS pay review bodies. However, unions representing NHS staff say it is not enough.
Unison, for example, argues that typical home energy bills have risen by over £1,800 since the effective date of the last pay award. The union also says the average household of two adults and two children is having to find an extra £1,000 to pay for food over the year.
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Defending the pay rise, Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We want a fair deal for staff. Very high inflation-driven settlements would have a worse impact on pay packets in the long run than proportionate and balanced increases now, and it is welcome that the pay review bodies agree with this approach.”
Who will receive the NHS pay rise?
NHS staff in England and Wales employed under the Agenda for Change contract will receive a pay rise. There are approximately 1.4 million NHS staff, with around 78,000 in Wales, making it the nation’s largest employer.
How much is the NHS pay increase?
The rise varies between groups of workers. Nurses, paramedics and midwives, for example, will all get an annual pay rise of at least £1,400, backdated to April.
This is in addition to the 3 per cent pay rise they received last year. The basic pay for a newly qualified nurse will increase by 5.5 per cent, from £25,655 to £27,055.
The average basic pay for nurses will increase from around £35,600 to around £37,000. Here’s how nurses’ pay will increase:
- Band five – £25,655 to £27,055
- Band five (two years’ experience) – £27,780 to £29,180
- Band five (four years’ experience) – £31,534 to £32,934
- Band six – £32,306 to £33,706
- Band six (two years’ experience) – £34,172 to £35,572
- Band six (five years’ experience) – £39,027 to £40,427
The Government says that eligible dentists and doctors will receive a 4.5% pay rise. Meanwhile, the lowest earners, such as porters and cleaners, will see a 9.3% increase in their basic pay this year, compared with last year.
When will NHS staff see the rise in their pay packets?
It has yet to be confirmed when the pay rise will be implemented, but it is expected that the extra money will be in September pay packets. It will be backdated to April 2022.
What do unions say?
Unison head of health and chair of the NHS group of unions Sara Gorton said: “This is nowhere near what’s needed to save the NHS. Demoralised and depleted health workers needed to know that ministers are serious about solving the staffing crisis and investing in the future. The way to do that was through a significant pay award.
“With the pandemic barely behind us and the growing cost-of-living catastrophe, NHS staff, their bank accounts and health services are all running on empty. The Government’s shown it’s prepared to sit by and watch waiting lists grow, ambulance call times lengthen and patient suffering increase.”
What does the Government say?
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This government hugely values and appreciates the dedication and contribution of NHS staff which is why we will give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of £1,400 this year, on top of the 3% they received last year when pay rises were temporarily paused in the wider public sector. We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and I am pleased to accept them in full.”
Will NHS staff go on strike?
It’s possible that NHS staff could go on strike, arguing that the pay rises are well below inflation. Unison has been one of the unions warning of possible industrial action.
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