The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has launched a consultation of members to hear their views on the latest NHS pay award for nursing staff on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts in England.
It comes a week after the UK government accepted the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB), awarding a 5.5% consolidated pay increase across all bands, effective from 1 April 2024.
The nursing union is consulting all members working in England who are employed on AfC terms and conditions.
It is also consulting members working in NHS commissioned and funded services who are employed on ‘AfC-aligned terms and conditions’ or employed on ‘dynamic AfC terms and conditions’, following a transfer of their employment.
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RCN members will be asked if they want to accept or reject the government’s pay award.
Last week, Nursing in Practice reported that RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger had promised to demand action from the government over last year’s pay debacle for GPNs.
In an email to members, RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger committed to ensure all general practice nurses (GPNs) are given a pay rise in line with the 5.5% announced for those working in the NHS.
‘All nursing staff who provide NHS services should receive an award of at least [the 5.5% given to AfC staff], no matter where you work.
‘Your hard work and commitment to delivering quality care in general practice cannot be ignored,’ she wrote.
Commenting on today’s consultation launch, Professor Ranger said: ‘When it comes to pay in the NHS, all professional groups deserve a clear route to fair pay restoration – starting to make up for a very serious loss of earnings in the last 15 years.
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‘Stagnant salaries at a time of spiralling prices forced too many to leave and deterred others from joining.
‘We do not begrudge doctors their pay rise. We work together closely, in the interests of our patients. What we ask for is the same fair treatment from government.’
She added that nurses’ wages do not reflect’ their ‘ever-present’ role as a ‘safety critical workforce’ working across health and care.
Professor Ranger said: ‘We will be pushing the government to show us their plans for improving NHS pay – it is vital to recruit and retain nursing staff, fill tens of thousands of vacant nurse jobs and give people the care they deserve.’
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Eligible RCN members have until noon on 16 September to respond to the consultation.
