Nurses’ pay ‘eclipsed’ by offers for other public sector staff

NHS nurses hit out at ‘worst pay rise in the public sector’ as junior doctors, police, prison officers and teachers learn they are in line for higher offers

This article was updated on 14th July 2023 to include reaction from the prime minister’s spokesperson

Nurses will now get the lowest pay rises in the public sector after ministers agreed to increases of at least 6% for millions of other workers.

The RCN hit out at prime minister Rishi Sunak, who announced on 13 July junior doctors, teachers, police and other groups would get an average pay rise of 6% as recommended by their respective pay review bodies. The college asked Mr Sunak to explain why nurses would now be among those seeing the smallest pay rise for 2023-24.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: ‘Record numbers of jobs in the NHS are unfilled and the government cannot expect to turn that around when it appears not to value them. Patients are paying the price.

‘Inflation is not coming down in the way ministers told NHS staff and others it would. For nursing staff, the pay rise they actually rejected is worth increasingly little and being eclipsed now by announcements for other professions. It is unfair and inadequate.’

Nurses react to higher public sector pay offers

Nurses have reacted angrily, questioning why they were encouraged to accept a 5% pay rise as ‘the best we would ever get’.

• RELATED: Nurses’ 5% pay rise signed-off despite threat of more strikes

Five per cent was government’s ‘best’ offer… at least if you’re a nurse

The NHS Staff Council earlier this year accepted a 5% pay rise for nurses and other NHS workers on Agenda for Change contracts for 2023-24 in England, alongside a one-off payment of between £1,655 and £3,789 for 2022-23.

After weeks of negotiations and months of nurses’ strikes the government was adamant it was its ‘best and final’ offer. The deal was negotiated between the government and health unions, bypassing the usual NHS Pay Review Body (RB) process, after the government had initially budgeted for a 3.5% pay increase.

‘There will be no more talks on pay. And no amount of strikes will change our decision’

Prime minister Rishi Sunak

The NHS RB published its annual pay report on 13 July, but given the earlier staff council agreement, it made no salary recommendations. Instead, the report focuses on lessons from the pay negotiation process this year.

The government’s decision to accept higher pay-rise recommendations from other pay review bodies is likely to fuel unrest among nurses, who have endured unprecedented periods of strike action.

A spokesperson for the prime minister pushed back against unfavourable comparisons between the nurses’ deal and the wider public sector recommendations. ‘It would be wrong to look at just the 5% figure because they received a significant non-consolidated award worth between 3.5% and 8.2% of their basic pay. So through the Agenda for Change deal, we’ve put more money into the pockets of healthcare workers this year than would have been the case with a 6% consolidated rise,’ the official said.

• RELATED: NHS nurses’s pay should be capped at 3.5% next year, say ministers

The government had for months said it could not afford large public sector pay rises and did not want to undermine its attempts to stifle inflation. Mr Sunak confirmed there would be no additional funding for the pay rises.

‘Instead, because we only have a fixed pot of money, government departments have had to find savings and efficiencies elsewhere,’ he said.

• RELATED: Nurses pay hopes dashed in budget ‘betrayal’

Mr Sunak made clear ministers would not be swayed by further strikes, adding: ‘Today’s offer is final. There will be no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements. And no amount of strikes will change our decision.’

This article was originally published on 13th July 2023

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