The government has announced that more than a million NHS employees in England will get a pay rise of at least £1,400, with lowest earners getting an increase of up to 9.3%.
Backdated to April 2022, porters and cleaners will see a 9.3% increase, eligible dentists and doctors will receive a 4.5% rise and junior doctors, who agreed a four-year deal in 2019, will get just over 2%.
According to the government, these are the highest uplifts in nearly 20 years and reflect the contributions public sector workers make, as well as the cost-of-living pressures they currently face. However, various sources across the industry have suggested that the pay award still fails to fully address the financial pressures facing NHS staff, instead amounting to a real-terms pay cut for some employees.
In addition, police officers in England and Wales will receive a £1,900 salary uplift from 1 September, while those on the lowest pay will see an up to 8.8% increase. All armed forces members will receive a base pay increase of 3.75%, with accommodation charges are capped at 1%, and senior members of the military will get a 3.5% rise.
Teachers have been granted pay rises of between 5% and 8.9%, effective from September, with starting pay for those outside London rising by 8.9% and salaries reaching £28,000 in the 2022/23 academic year. Experienced teachers will get a 5% award in 2022/23.
Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “This is a grave misstep by ministers. With this low award, the government is misjudging the mood of nursing staff and the public too.
“Living costs are rising and yet they have enforced another real-terms pay cut on nursing staff. It will push more nurses and nursing support workers out of the profession. The award must be fully funded with additional money. There can be no question of money being taken out of existing NHS budgets.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This government hugely values and appreciates the dedication and contribution of NHS staff, which is why we will give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of £1,400 this year, on top of the 3% they received last year when pay rises were temporarily paused in the wider public sector.”