More than 1 million NHS staff in England will receive an additional pay rise as part of an offer made following talks between the government and Agenda for Change unions.
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In the last two weeks, the government has been holding formal negotiations with unions representing staff including nurses, paramedics, 999 call handlers, midwives, security guards and cleaners, to find a fair and reasonable way forward on pay.
All parties committed to finding a fair deal for hardworking NHS staff, and a deal that also acknowledged the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom that would ensure we can deliver the Prime Minister’s promise to halve inflation – one of his five priorities.
The government hugely values the work of NHS staff. They showed bravery and dedication to support the country throughout the pandemic and are now playing a vital role in the government’s ambition to cut the waiting lists that have built up as a result of Covid.
The government also recognises that families across the country are facing increasing financial pressures, fuelled by the war in the Ukraine and the ongoing fallout from the pandemic.
The talks have been constructive and the government has now put forward a final offer.
The Royal College of Nursing, UNISON, GMB, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the British Dietetic Association will recommend the offer to their members in consultations that will be held over the coming weeks. Strike action will continue to be paused while they are consulted.
Under the deal, Agenda for Change staff will receive a non-consolidated award of 2% of an individual’s salary for 2022/23.
In addition, they will receive a one-off ‘NHS Backlog Bonus’ which recognises the sustained pressure facing the NHS following the pandemic and the extraordinary effort staff have been making to hit backlog recovery targets and meet the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists.
The backlog bonus will be worth at least £1,250 per person but will be determined based on how much experience staff have and based on an individual’s pay band. The average nurse in pay band 5, for example, will receive £1,350.
For 2023/24, the government is offering Agenda for Change staff a 5% consolidated increase in pay, worth at least £1,065.
As a result of this package, a newly qualified nurse will see their salary go up by more than £2,750 over two years from 2021/22 to 2023/24. On top of this they will also receive over £1,890 in one-off payments this year.
The deal will also provide a higher pay uplift for the lowest paid NHS staff, with all those in bands 1 and 2 having their pay raised to the same level.
The government can guarantee that there will be no impact on frontline services or the quality of care that patients receive as a result of this pay offer. ■