Today is the first day of the financial year and is also the day that nursing staff across Wales were due to receive a pay rise for 2025/26. However, Welsh Government have failed to announce what that pay award will even be.

Nursing staff in Wales are now left out of pocket during crushing financial pressures and a derailing workforce crisis, with no further clarity on when a pay award will be announced.

This delay raises serious concerns about the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensuring fair and timely pay for its healthcare workforce.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has condemned the delay, warning that it exacerbates the nursing workforce crisis at a time when vacancies remain unfilled, staff retention is plummeting, and student recruitment is in decline. In Wales alone, there are over 2,000 vacant nursing posts, placing further strain on patient care.

The RCN is calling on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to deliver the NHS pay award without further hesitation and to publicly challenge Westminster for failing to provide the necessary funding for the Welsh NHS.

Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said:

“The continued delay in announcing the NHS pay award is unacceptable. Nursing staff are essential to patient care, yet once again, they find themselves at the bottom of government priorities.

“Nursing staff are the backbone of the NHS and cannot be expected to deliver the reforms needed to save it, if Welsh government can’t even pay them fairly and on time.

“The Welsh government must take responsibility and act now to ensure nursing staff receive a fair and timely pay rise. At the same time, they must hold Westminster to account for failing to properly fund NHS Wales.”


ENDS