On 22 May 2025, the Westminster government announced the award for NHS pay in England for 2025-26. The award is set out below:

• Uplifting all pay points of Agenda for Change staff by 3.6% on a consolidated basis, taking effect from 1 April 2025.
• In addition, the PRB again recommended that the Westminster government provide the NHS Staff Council with a funded mandate to resolve outstanding concerns with the AfC pay structure, and that has been accepted.
• For staff who received the national living wage rate on 1 April 2025, the 3.6% award is not on top of that, as that was an advance payment.  

The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, has announced his wish to implement the Pay Review Body (PRB) recommendation of a 3.6% pay rise. This is for those employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions for 2025-26.

However, he has been advised that, currently, the funding for the award has not been identified. Therefore, the issue has been referred to the Finance Minister, who will need to secure the support of the wider Northern Ireland Executive before he can confirm any details of the award. This means the 2025-26 pay award for members in Northern Ireland is not yet finalised. Despite this, it’s so important we know how you feel about the 3.6% recommendation by the pay review board.

On 22 May the Welsh government announced the award for NHS pay in Wales for 2025-26: 

• Uplifting all pay points for Agenda for Change staff by 3.6% on a consolidated basis, effective from 1 April 2025.
• In addition to the pay award, the Welsh government has committed to making significant progress towards agreeing a plan with the UK Staff Council for implementing structural reform before the 2026-27 pay round begins. However, the UK Department for Health and Social Care will need to lead negotiations with the UK Treasury to secure additional funding in the forthcoming Spending Review to fund reform.
• For staff who received the Living Wage Foundation rate on 1 April 2025, the 3.6% award is not on top of that, as that was an advanced payment.  

The decision on whether a next step should be to conduct a statutory industrial action ballot will be informed by the votes of eligible RCN members in this consultation. It is up to you whether this award is enough to value the nursing profession.

Typically, UK governments ask independent pay review bodies to make recommendations on public sector pay before ministers consider their findings and decide whether to accept those recommendations. The final decisions are political and made by ministers.

The NHS Pay Review Body makes recommendations on the pay of staff employed by the NHS/HSC on  NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions. It does not make recommendations for doctors, dentists and very senior managers, – this is completed by two other review bodies (DDRB & SSRB). Read more about the NHS Pay Review Body. 

We believe that general practice nursing staff should have, as a minimum, equal terms and conditions to colleagues employed directly in the NHS.  We are working with you to call for the pay increases and transparency you need from your employer.

A small number of general practice staff are directly employed in the NHS on NHS (Agenda for Change) terms and conditions. If that includes you, then you should automatically receive the NHS pay award and are eligible to vote in this consultation.

General practice funding is determined via the GP contract. The Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB) recommended uplifting the pay element of the GP contract by 4%. But the announcement has left important questions unanswered. We're demanding clarity about what the pay award means for you.

Get involved and find out more about our work to secure the pay, terms and conditions you deserve.  

You are the RCN and if you want to be a part of nursing activism and lead on the issues that matter most to you, you can find out more about activism and organising, our forums and networks and how to become an RCN rep.

If you want to know more about our campaigning activity, become a campaign supporter.  

Last year’s NHS award was announced by a very new Westminster government, elected in July 2024. Since then, we have been seeking to influence ministers on the issues that matter to nursing. That includes repeated calls to open direct negotiations on nursing pay.

We continue to call for this, as well as changes to the NHS pay setting processes. But the patience of nursing is running out. We must make the voice of nursing heard loud and clear, and that’s why your vote in this consultation on your pay is essential.

A 3.6% pay award for all directly employed NHS staff employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions was announced by the Westminster and Welsh governments on 22 May 2025, it will be backdated to 1 April 2025. Employers will be working to implement this pay award in August at the earliest.

Governments can use different routes to determine pay awards. Often UK governments ask independent pay review bodies to look at the evidence and make recommendations on public sector pay before ministers consider their findings and decide whether to accept those recommendations.

The NHS Pay Review Body makes recommendations on the pay of staff employed by the NHS on  Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions. It does not make recommendations for doctors, dentists and very senior managers. Read more about the NHS Pay Review Body.

The NHS Pay Review Body recommended a 3.6% consolidated pay award for 2025/26 across all AfC pay points from 1 April 2025.

See the full report published by the Westminster government on 22 May 2025.

No. Only RCN members who are currently employed by the NHS in England, Wales or HSCNI on NHS (Agenda for Change) terms and conditions, are eligible to vote on the 2025-26 pay award.

Make sure your details are up to date on your RCN record to make sure your vote is counted. 

Vote early to make sure your voice is heard. The consultation will be open for a few weeks. The sooner you and your colleagues vote, the sooner you could know the results. It’s time to get out the vote.

A consultation opened on 9 June for you to vote and have your say. It will be up to every member working in the NHS in England and Wales and HSCNI to say if 3.6% is enough. Your elected member leaders will not be making a recommendation on this award.  

Have your say in just a few steps on our website. Vote to tell us if you think 3.6% is enough.

The UK and Welsh Governments have announced a 3.6% pay award for NHS staff employed on NHS (Agenda for Change) terms and conditions. In Northern Ireland, the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, has announced that he signed off on a pay award in line with the Pay Review Body (PRB) recommendation of a 3.6% pay award for those employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions for 2025-26. However, he also stated that his ministerial direction is likely to go to the finance minister, who may choose to implement it or pass it to the Executive for a final decision. Therefore, the 2025-26 pay award for members in Northern Ireland is not yet finalised.

Don’t miss your chance to vote on whether you think 3.6% is enough.

Check we have the correct details for you, so you can have your say and encourage your colleagues to do the same. 

We want every eligible RCN member to vote in the consultation. Each eligible member has one vote.

Your vote is secured with your member details, and can only be cast when logged in. If you attempt to vote multiple times, only your last vote will be counted.  

If you vote more than once during the consultation, only your final vote will be counted. Your vote is secured with your member details, and can only be cast when logged in. Every eligible member will have one vote in the final count.

Please log in to MyRCN to cast your vote. During periods of high traffic, it can be more difficult to log into the website.

If you have issues accessing our website, please wait a few minutes and try again. If you’re still having trouble, email membership@rcn.org.uk or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100. Please include your membership number in your email and have it ready to read out if you call.

You can find out more about RCN membership and how to get in touch on our membership FAQs.