The Welsh government announces Agenda for Change pay award in Wales 

The Welsh government has announced that the pay award for nursing staff in Wales employed on NHS terms and conditions (Agenda for Change) for 2026/27 will be 3.3%.  

RCN Wales Executive Director, Helen Whyley, said:

“A 3.3% pay award is very disappointing and shows a failure to grasp the reality facing nursing staff in Wales. At a time when costs of living remain high another real term pay cut is being imposed again on a workforce already stretched to its limits.”

“The Welsh government has made a commitment to pay restoration back to 2008, and this award falls well short of that pledge and of what is needed to value and retain staff.

This award will be applied from 1 April 2026 in Wales. For the first time in years, it will be paid on time.

We expected a different approach to this year’s pay round. For months the government had indicated that unions could enter direct negotiations on a multi-year deal. Instead, ministers have reverted to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) process – a system widely criticised across the sector and rejected by almost all unions this year.

Helen continued: “It is particularly indefensible that the government have once again fallen back on the Pay Review Body (PRB) process that unions widely reject after raising expectations of direct negotiations. Nursing staff were led to believe a different approach was coming. Instead, they have been handed more of the same.

“The Welsh government must also match the career progression measures announced for NHS nursing staff in England yesterday. Our members in Wales will not accept being left behind. If progress can be delivered for staff across the border, it can and be delivered here,” Helen said.

Your elected members on the RCN Trade Union Committee and Council will now consider the detail. They’ll look at whether this is fair treatment compared to other professions and sectors and what the government means when it asks for talks on reforming the structure of Agenda for Change.

Helen continued: “Morale is already fragile and staff feel consistently undervalued. Fair pay and clear career pathways are essential to keeping experienced professionals in the NHS and attracting the next generation.

“We will now review this award against the rest of the NHS staff and across the public sector before deciding our next steps.” 

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