Ministers must ‘stick to their word’ and show how much they value nursing staff through this year’s NHS pay award, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said.
RCN chief executive and general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger has written to members outlining how an announcement on NHS pay in England – for those on Agenda for Change contracts – will be made before the end of July.
It comes amid rumours of a 5.5% rise for NHS staff and as chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the government was currently looking at the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body.
The 2024-25 pay award for those on Agenda for Change contracts has been delayed by more than three months – much like previous years.
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Speaking to on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg over the weekend, Ms Reeves said she recognised there was ‘a cost to not settling’ the recommendations of the pay review body – including the risk of industrial action and the impact on recruitment and retention.
She also confirmed that announcements on public sector worker pay would come later this month.
In an email sent to NHS RCN members in England, seen by Nursing in Practice, Professor Ranger reiterated the importance of a ‘significant, fair pay rise’.
She said the RCN had submitted ‘very strong written evidence’ to the pay review body this year, and that it had organised nursing staff to speak with those advising the government on NHS pay.
‘We will give ministers no choice but to stick to their word and value the work of nursing staff,’ said Professor Ranger.
‘As Rachel Reeves said herself, there’s a cost to not settling our pay dispute and the impact that has on recruiting and retaining safety-critical staff.
‘Not just the cost of any industrial action but the agency nursing bill which is sky high because permanent people aren’t paid fairly.’
With an announcement due in the coming days, the RCN is encouraging members to ensure the college has their correct email addresses and workplace information – ready for the RCN to launch a consultation on the proposed pay award.
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‘My commitment to you is that when a pay award comes, you’ll be consulted if you’re eligible,’ said Professor Ranger.
‘We know that when you invest in nursing, you invest in patients, and you invest in society.
‘Make sure you can have your say in our upcoming NHS pay consultation.’
Many general practice nurses (GPNs) are not on NHS Agenda for Change contracts and have independent employment terms and conditions set by their GP practices.
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However, in recent months, the RCN has ramped up its campaign for GPNs to be given pay, terms and conditions in line with their colleagues in the NHS, on such contracts.
A recent roundtable discussion, hosted by Nursing in Practice, explored the pros and cons of being employed independently and not on a national pay structure.
Meanwhile, our GPN Manifesto for 2024 saw the government urged to ensure practice nurses ‘have the same pay, terms and conditions as their secondary care colleagues’.
