The government has announced that NHS employees and teachers will receive a pay rise in recognition of their hard work.
All NHS workers will receive a pay rise for the second consecutive year, following the Health Secretary’s acceptance of the independent pay review bodies’ headline NHS pay recommendations.
The government will fund a 4% pay rise for consultants, specialty doctors, specialists and GPs, while dentists will also receive a contract pay uplift. Resident doctors will see an average 5.4% pay increase, which will comprise a 4% boost plus a £750 consolidated payment. Agenda for Change staff, which includes nurses, health visitors, midwives, ambulance staff, porters, and cleaners, will receive a 3.6% pay rise.
All pay uplifts will be backdated to 1 April and appear in employees’ pay packets from August.
Meanwhile, teachers will receive a 4% pay rise from September for the 2025/26 academic year, following the Education Secretary’s acceptance of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation. Schools will be expected to find the first 1% of the pay award, while the government will provide an additional £615 million investment.
Wes Streeting, health and social care secretary, said: “These are thoroughly deserved pay rises for all our hard-working nurses, doctors and other NHS staff, which is why we are backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises for the second year in a row. This year’s pay increases, and last year’s, represent significant progress in making sure that NHS staff are properly recognised for the outstanding work they do.”
Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, added: “The announcement shows the government’s support for NHS staff and is recognition of their huge efforts and hard work over the last year. It is particularly welcome as it comes amid significant pressure on the public purse.”
Bridget Phillipson, education secretary, said: “This pay award for schools backed by major investment alongside funding for further education is in recognition of the crucial role teachers play in breaking the link between background and success, and will support schools and colleges to invest in the workforce they need, so every young person achieves and thrives.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, added: “It is testament to the strength of feeling in the profession that government have moved from [its] initial recommendation of a 2.8% pay rise to the 4% announced.”
