Over one million NHS staff are benefiting from multi-year pay deals already agreed with trade unions, which have delivered a pay rise of over 12% over three years for newly qualified nurses and an increase in junior doctors’ pay scales of 8.2%.
Most nurses benefit from this increase.
The public understands that the public sector pay will have to be frozen this year due to the unprecedented economic environment. The Government has, however, decided to commit to continue a pay rise for NHS workers. This is on top of a £513 million investment in professional development and at a time of increased recruitment. Nursing applications are up by a third and this will help to reduce demands on existing nurses.
Other public sector workers such as the Police, who have been on the frontline throughout, but will not be receiving a rise at this time. The Government is keen to support future pay increases in the public sector when the economic circumstances permit.
A recommendation for an increase in nurses pay has been made to the independent pay review bodies and the pay review bodies will be reporting back in late Spring. The Government will consider their recommendations carefully when it receives them.
