Government agrees major pay and support boost for nurses

NHS nurses in England will receive pay reviews, higher graduate salaries and a national preceptorship under a new agreement between ministers and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). 

The government said the measures were designed to improve career progression and address concerns that many nurses stay on the same pay band for the majority of their working lives.

Under the agreement, graduate pay will be prioritised for increases and all Band 5 nursing roles will be reviewed to determine whether current pay levels reflect the amount of work they do. 

A single national preceptorship programme will also be introduced to support newly registered nurses in their first year. 

Ministers said additional funding would be made available to cover the Band 5 review and any resulting pay rises. This would be separate from future cost-of-living awards. 

‘Nurses have been arguing that they deserve more recognition – and rightly so,’ health secretary Wes Streeting said. ‘They are essential for leading and delivering our 10-Year Health Plan, yet many nurses are not being fairly compensated for the work they do.

‘That’s why, this government is working constructively with the RCN to deliver a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work for nurses. I want to thank Nicola Ranger and her team for their constructive approach to talks – it’s clear that working together is in everyone’s interests, especially patients.’ 

Nicola Ranger, general secretary of the RCN, said the ‘announcement is significant progress on career progression for nursing staff. 

‘Too many are not being paid fairly and valued for their skills and responsibilities in caring for patients, too often starting and finishing their careers on the same low pay band. 

‘It is the first time nursing has been prioritised in this way. We set out a strong case for supporting nursing careers and the government has responded with a series of important commitments to staff in the NHS in England. For those who get a band uplift as a result, this is real change and real money.’

The announcement comes ahead of wider discussions on reform of the agenda for change pay structure, which covers most NHS staff. 

Image: Sander Sammy

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