RCN Executive Director of Legal and Member Relations Jo Galbraith-Marten said:

“3.3% isn’t enough and there is no excuse for government once again outsourcing responsibility for NHS pay to a failed PRB process. Ministers should have negotiated with unions directly, as we requested multiple times. You simply can’t agree fair staff pay without talking to staff.

“It’s clear that nursing staff are being failed on pay, which is why health unions are united in calling for direct talks to start swiftly on reforming the NHS pay structure. All the evidence shows that the current system undervalues our highly-skilled female dominated profession and its safety critical role in today’s health service.

“With its announcement on band 5 progression last month, the government in Westminster has started to turn a page on nursing staff stuck at the lowest pay band for their entire careers. That must only be the beginning. Serious and urgent discussions must begin so we can modernise NHS pay and chart a brighter path for all of nursing.”  

Ends