More than one million NHS England employees are set to receive pay rises and one-off payments as part of a pay deal that takes effect today (1 June).
The deal, which was announced last month, sees nurses, paramedics, 999 call handlers, midwives, security guards, and cleaners eligible for the Agenda for Change contract receive a 5% pay rise backdated from April. This is worth at least £1,065, raising the hourly rate for the lowest-paid NHS England employees to £11.45 per hour, or £22,383 per year.
It also includes a non-consolidated payment for 2022-23, of between £1,655 and £3,789. This is equal to 8.2% for those in the lowest pay band and approximately 6% for nurses, midwives and others on band five of the Agenda for Change.
Most English health unions accepted the government’s deal, but Unite and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members rejected it.
Steve Barclay, secretary of state for health and social care, said: “The government will no longer be seeking recommendations on the 2023-24 pay award from the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB). However, the government continues to value the work of NHSPRB and would welcome its observations on the pay deal in England.”
A Unison spokesperson added: “We demonstrated how powerful NHS staff are when we all come together. We forced this government to get around the table with us and present a better offer. Industrial action works. Direct negotiation works. With greater support and a higher turnout, we can force the government to go further, faster in future. The government has also committed to reviewing the process for setting pay awards going forward.”
RCN members will vote on further strike action in a ballot that closes on 23 June. Meanwhile, Unite members from Guy’s and St Thomas’ workforce, including nurses and frontline workers, will stage a 24-hour strike today, and paramedics and call handlers at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust will strike tomorrow for up to seven hours from 2pm.
