The Government have accepted the recommendations from the independent NHS pay review bodies in full, meaning all staff under the remit of this year’s pay review will receive a pay rise.
This means that the lowest earners such as porters and cleaners will receive a 9.3% pay rise, whilst the basic pay for newly qualified nurses will increase by 5.5% from £25,655 to £27,055.
The average basic pay for nurses will increase from around £35,600 as of March this year to approximately £37,000.
More than one million staff under the Agenda for Change contract, which includes nurses, paramedics, and midwives, will also benefit from a pay increase of at least £1,400 this year backdated to April 2022.
Doctors and dentists who are part of the Doctors and Dentists’ Remuneration Body (DDRB) remit will receive a 4.5% pay rise too.
The review considered a breadth of evidence deriving from various sources, including the NHS itself, the Government, and the trade unions.
Across the entire public sector, these pay rises account for the biggest uplifts in almost 20 years, reflecting the vital contributions public sector workers make for the country.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This government hugely values and appreciates the dedication and contribution of NHS staff which is why we will give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of £1,400 this year, on top of the 3% they received last year when pay rises were temporarily paused in the wider public sector.
“We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations, and I am pleased to accept them in full. We want a fair deal for staff. Very high inflation-driven settlements would have a worse impact on pay packets in the long run than proportionate and balanced increases now, and it is welcome that the pay review bodies agree with this approach.”
The Government also say that these pay rises “strike a careful balance between recognising the vital importance of public sector workers, whilst delivering value for the taxpayer, not increasing the country’s debt further and being careful not to drive even higher prices in the future.”
Health professionals who were already in multi-year deals were not eligible for a pay review this year.
More information is available here.
