Responding to the UK Government having received the Pay Review Body’s Report last week on their recommendations for the NHS pay uplift for 2025/2026, RCN Executive Director of Legal and Member Relations, Joanne Galbraith-Marten, said: 

“Ministers cannot leave nursing staff waiting any longer and must now confirm this year’s pay award. Nursing staff and all NHS workers need certainty now. More dither and delay will not wash. 

“Nursing staff are the key to pulling the NHS out of its current crisis and delivering the government’s reforms. This will only happen when the profession is rewarded fairly for its work, allowing services to attract and keep experienced, highly-skilled staff. 

“Our members already don’t feel valued by this government and any further delay will cause anger among those working in the NHS. With student numbers and international recruitment plummeting, the government cannot afford to kick the can down the road.”

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