Over 1.3 million NHS workers in England are poised to receive a significant pay increase, as the government is set to announce the long-awaited pay rise within days.
This comes after the NHS Independent Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) recommended a 5.5 percent pay rise, a figure notably higher than the 3 percent previously budgeted by the former government.
The delay in the report, attributed to late commissioning and the general election, had left NHS staff in anticipation.
The Times reported that the NHSPRB’s recommendation aims to address over a decade of real terms pay cuts endured by NHS workers.
Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, stated that the proposed increase aligns with pay rises seen across the economy and would cost an additional £3 billion for schools and the NHS combined.
In June, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) urged the new government to prioritise the implementation of this pay rise. The potential costs of not settling, including further industrial action and recruitment challenges, have been highlighted as significant concerns.
What about the ongoing strikes?
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that NHS workers should expect an announcement by the end of the month. While she did not commit to the full 5.5 percent, she acknowledged the financial and workforce implications of ongoing strikes.
In her first interview from No. 11 Downing Street, Ms. Reeves expressed her appreciation for public service workers and emphasised the government’s commitment to evaluating the pay review body’s recommendations. “Later this month we will make an announcement on public sector pay,” she stated, acknowledging the critical need to address the issue promptly.
Historically, governments have often accepted the NHSPRB’s typically conservative recommendations, and it remains to be seen if the current administration will follow suit.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
