HSC pay consultation results: urgent action required on pay

RCN members in Northern Ireland have said that a 3.6% increase in pay for nursing staff employed in the HSC on Agenda for Change terms and conditions is not enough.

Almost 80% of those who voted said that the proposed HSC pay award of 3.6% was not enough. This comes as the profession continues to face severe staff shortages and struggles to maintain patient safety amid a corridor care crisis.

The turnout in the vote was over 50% and the results highlight widespread dissatisfaction among nursing staff with the way the profession is valued. The fact that nursing staff in Northern Ireland haven’t even received the 3.6% pay award that staff in England and Wales have, adds insult to injury. 

The RCN is demanding long overdue reforms to the NHS pay system, Agenda for Change, which was introduced over two decades ago. It provides nursing staff with low starting salaries, traps tens of thousands of nurses on the same pay band their entire careers and prevents staff progressing despite years of experience, skills, formal qualifications and training.  

Responding to the results RCN Northern Ireland Executive Director, Professor Rita Devlin said: “This vote is an overwhelming signal from our members that they feel undervalued and that meaningful change is needed in the nursing profession. 

“Despite being told we deserve the same 3.6% pay award which nursing staff in England and Wales are already receiving, we have yet to have confirmation of when and indeed if this will happen. Make no mistake, inaction over pay will not be accepted. 

“The HSC system in Northern Ireland is in urgent need of transformation, and the RCN is supportive of the Health Minister’s reset plan. However, meaningful change will only be possible with the full involvement and leadership of nursing staff. Expecting an already exhausted and disillusioned workforce to invest their time and energy into this process without a fair pay award is both unreasonable and deeply disrespectful.

“Since 2019, nursing staff in Northern Ireland have shown they are willing to stand up for fair treatment—not only for themselves but for the patients they care for. The current pay system is broken, and we are demanding change.

“The first step must be for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the long-overdue pay award for this year, which should have been implemented in April.”