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Valued through fair pay

Our campaign for a better financial deal for nursing staff

We can’t allow ourselves to be compromised by a system that undervalues and underfunds nursing. 

None of us got into this profession to get rich. But we do deserve recognition. That’s something we’ll never compromise on. 

For our health and social care to be what it should be, it’s vital that those in power value us enough to pay us a sufficient wage. One that rewards our experience and expertise and allows us to live without money worries. And yet, nursing staff have been repeatedly undersold by successive governments.

Join us to demand better.

What we're calling for

We call on governments across the UK to show that they value nursing as the skilled and safety-critical profession it is. When deciding nursing pay, governments must:

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Recognise

Recognise that nursing wages have had a real-terms cut of over 20% for the past 13 years. The impact of this has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.

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Commit

Commit to structural reform of nursing pay to acknowledge chronic workforce shortages and encourage staff to join and stay in the profession.

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Build

Build the profile of our amazing profession as attractive and rewarding to tackle the tens of thousands of unfilled nursing posts across the UK.

Fair pay in the NHS

Fair pay in general practice

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Fair pay in independent health and social care

An IHSC nurse

Nursing pay around the UK

England

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In May 2025, the Westminster government announced a 3.6% pay award for NHS staff in England.  

This award does little to value nursing and will be entirely swallowed up by inflation.  

Soon, we’ll launch a consultation asking eligible members if the 3.6% pay award is enough. 

In the meantime, read the full detail of the pay award.

To see nursing paid fairly, we need nursing staff to be recognised not only by annual cost of living increases, but with structural change to nursing pay, providing a clear and effective route to fair pay for the safety-critical role nursing plays in every health and social care setting. Nursing staff must be paid fairly for the work they do.

Northern Ireland

Following a lengthy delay in receiving a pay offer, members in Northern Ireland have accepted the 5.5% Pay Review Body (PRB) pay recommendation for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts for 2024/25.

We’re calling for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to ensure that the unacceptable delay in implementing a pay award for health care staff does not happen again and for negotiations to begin swiftly for 2025-2026.

Our campaign for fair and equitable pay continues, and we are also committed to ensuring that safe staffing legislation, which has been promised since 2020, is implemented.

Scotland

Our members in Scotland accepted the Scottish government’s pay offer for an increase of 4.25% for 2025-26 and 3.75% for 2026-27 for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts. The offer also included an inflation guarantee to ensure the increase in pay each year is a minimum of one percentage point higher than average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation.

A significant minority voted to reject the offer, demonstrating continued frustration and concern about the nursing workforce crisis facing Scotland’s NHS. We will continue to lobby the Scottish government hard on reforming the Agenda for Change pay scheme and implementing the recommendations of the Agenda for Change review.

Wales

In May 2025, the Welsh government announced a 3.6% pay award for NHS staff in Wales.  

This award does little to value nursing and will be entirely swallowed up by inflation.  

Soon, we’ll launch a consultation asking eligible members if the 3.6% pay award is enough. 

In the meantime, read the full detail of the pay award.

We’re dedicated to advocating for fair pay, pushing for protected continuing professional development time and a 36-hour work week. We’re also committed to holding the Welsh government accountable for eliminating care in inappropriate places (‘corridor care’).

Crown dependencies

Jersey: Members accepted a three-year deal of pay increases beginning in 2024 and extending until 2026. The current pay offer is:

  • 2024 – A pay increase of 8% (consolidated)
  • 2025 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2024)
  • 2026 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2025)

Pay negotiations for 2027 and beyond will begin again in 2026.

Guernsey: Members accepted a one-year pay offer that will uplift all pay and allowances by 5% from 1 January 2025. Pay negotiations for 2026 and beyond will start later this year.

Isle of Man: In November 2024, members employed by Manx Care voted to reject a 4% pay uplift with effect from 1 April 2024. 70% of those who voted in a subsequent indicative ballot said they would consider strike action. Discussions about the next steps continue.

Your pay, your say

As a trade union, we represent you and your fellow members in pay consultations. We’ll be in touch via email if and when your employer makes a pay offer or sets a pay award.

It’s so important that we can contact you when that happens. Check and update your details today.

Find current consultations and ballots, plus other ways to have your say, on our dedicated page.

Have your say on pay
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Time for a new approach

Despite the government promising 'change', it has done little to deliver structural pay reform that reflects the safety-critical role of our profession. The result? Nursing is still undervalued. 

But nursing is a safety-critical profession that deserves respect and a fair reward. And our members need action and clarity now.  
 
Sign up to become a campaign supporter and help advocate for the change nursing needs. We'll send you quick and easy opportunities to make a real difference.

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Fair pay goes beyond governments

See how else we’re striving for fair and reflective nursing pay.

Value nursing with a pathway to progression

We strongly believe that newly registered nurses working in the NHS should progress from Agenda for Change band 5 to band 6 after preceptorship – just like paramedics and midwives.

Our new report sets out 5 reasons why.

Get the facts
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A fair reward based on accurate role profiles

After years of review, new NHS role profiles will be published in June. NHS Employers must now prepare and review job descriptions in partnership with us and nursing staff.

Get the detail

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Pay justice through job evaluation

The nursing profession has evolved, but job descriptions and pay haven’t kept up. If you think you’re not being paid fairly for the job you do, you can update your job description and ask for it to be evaluated.

Get started

What else we're demanding for nursing

Respected as a safety-critical profession

Our campaign for proper recognition.

See our calls

Supported to thrive

Our campaign for a healthy, developed and supported nursing workforce.

Get involved

Safely staffed by law

Our campaign for safe and dignified care for every patient.

See how you can help

See how else to get involved
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