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Two nurses standing beside each other

Valued through fair pay

Our campaign for a better financial deal for nursing staff

We can’t allow ourselves to be compromised by a system that undervalues and underfunds nursing. 

None of us got into this profession to get rich. But we do deserve recognition. That’s something we’ll never compromise on. 

For our health and social care to be what it should be, it’s vital that those in power value us enough to pay us a sufficient wage. One that rewards our experience and expertise and allows us to live without money worries. And yet, nursing staff have been repeatedly undersold by successive governments.

Join us to demand better.

What we're calling for

We call on governments across the UK to show that they value nursing as the skilled and safety-critical profession it is. When deciding nursing pay, governments must:

A megaphone and a penicl

Recognise

Recognise that nursing wages have had a real-terms cut of over 20% for the past 13 years. The impact of this has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.

Two hands shaking

Commit

Commit to structural reform of nursing pay to acknowledge chronic workforce shortages and encourage staff to join and stay in the profession.

A light bulb

Build

Build the profile of our amazing profession as attractive and rewarding to tackle the tens of thousands of unfilled nursing posts across the UK.

Fair pay in the NHS

NHS nursing staff should have received a pay rise on 1 April.

Your pay award is late and the government still hasn’t confirmed when it will be announced. These decisions are entirely in the government’s control. It’s not good enough. You deserve transparency and a pay award that arrives on time.  

2 Nurses reading documents talking

Your NHS pay award is late by:

 

Nursing pay around the UK

England

Blue graphic of the United Kingdom

Our members in England rejected the 5.5% pay award for NHS staff in 2024/25. Our members sent a clear message that annual pay awards are not good enough – they expect more for themselves, their patients, and the NHS.

We've repeatedly called for direct negotiations after members rejected the 5.5% pay award last year – but the UK government are committed to the PRB process. We are now waiting for the PRB to report on pay for the 2025/26 financial year.

To see nursing paid fairly, we need nursing staff to be recognised not only by annual cost of living increases, but with structural change to nursing pay, providing a clear and effective route to fair pay for the safety-critical role nursing plays in every health and social care setting. Nursing staff must be paid fairly for the work they do.

Northern Ireland

Following a lengthy delay in receiving a pay offer, members in Northern Ireland have accepted the 5.5% Pay Review Body (PRB) pay recommendation for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts for 2024/25.

We’re calling for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to ensure that the unacceptable delay in implementing a pay award for health care staff does not happen again and for negotiations to begin swiftly for 2025-2026.

Our campaign for fair and equitable pay continues, and we are also committed to ensuring that safe staffing legislation, which has been promised since 2020, is implemented.

Scotland

Our members in Scotland accepted the Scottish government’s 5.5% pay offer for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts for 2024/25. They told us that while it doesn’t make up for years of being undervalued, it is another step on the journey to fair pay.

Pay negotiations for 2025/26 are now open after a delay, which means members will receive their pay award late. This is unfair on hard working staff who are already under enormous strain due to system pressures, high vacancy rates and increased demand for care in all sectors.

Wales

Our members in Wales rejected the 5.5% Pay Review Body (PRB) pay recommendation for NHS Wales staff on Agenda for Change contracts for 2024/25. We wrote to the Cabinet Secretary, who confirmed that the Welsh Government had accepted the NHS PRB recommendations. He reiterated the Welsh Government’s commitment to pay restoration and said discussions would continue within the Wales Partnership Forum, which includes us.

We’re dedicated to advocating for fair pay, pushing for protected continuing professional development time and a 36-hour work week. We’re also committed to holding the Welsh government accountable for eliminating care in inappropriate places (‘corridor care’).

Crown dependencies

Jersey: Members accepted a three-year deal of pay increases beginning in 2024 and extending until 2026. The current pay offer is:

  • 2024 – A pay increase of 8% (consolidated)
  • 2025 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2024)
  • 2026 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2025)

Pay negotiations for 2027 and beyond will begin again in 2026.

Guernsey: Members accepted a one-year pay offer that will uplift all pay and allowances by 5% from 1 January 2025. Pay negotiations for 2026 and beyond will start later this year.

Isle of Man: In November 2024, members employed by Manx Care voted to reject a 4% pay uplift with effect from 1 April 2024. 70% of those who voted in a subsequent indicative ballot said they would consider strike action. Discussions about the next steps continue.

Your pay, your say

As a trade union, we represent you and your fellow members in pay consultations. We’ll be in touch via email if and when your employer makes a pay offer or sets a pay award.

It’s so important that we can contact you when that happens. Check and update your details today.

Find current consultations and ballots, plus other ways to have your say, on our dedicated page.

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Time for a new approach

Despite the government promising 'change', it has done little to deliver structural pay reform that reflects the safety-critical role of our profession. The result? Nursing is still undervalued. 

But nursing is a safety-critical profession that deserves respect and a fair reward. And our members need action and clarity now.  
 
Sign up to become a campaign supporter and help advocate for the change nursing needs. We'll send you quick and easy opportunities to make a real difference.

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Fair pay goes beyond governments

See how else we’re striving for fair and reflective nursing pay.

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A fair reward based on accurate role profiles

For years, we've demanded new and accurate nursing role profiles, clearer career progression and equivalence across independent health and social care.

See our demands

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Pay justice through job evaluation

The nursing profession has evolved, but job descriptions and pay haven’t kept up. If you think you’re not being paid fairly for the job you do, you can update your job description and ask for it to be evaluated.

Get started

What else we're demanding for nursing

Respected as a safety-critical profession

Our campaign for proper recognition.

See our calls

Supported to thrive

Our campaign for a healthy, developed and supported nursing workforce.

Get involved

Safely staffed by law

Our campaign for safe and dignified care for every patient.

See how you can help