After months of negotiation between the RCN and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Department of Health in England has agreed a major package of measures designed to provide fairer recognition, stronger support and improved career progression for nursing staff working in the NHS in England. This package is backed by dedicated funding and represents the most substantial investment in nursing career pathways in many years.

Under the new commitments, the government will:

• Prioritise graduate pay as part of upcoming structural reform negotiations, ensuring fairer pay for newly qualified nurses and other Agenda for Change graduates.
• Fund a full review of every Band 5 nursing role, ensuring nurses are correctly banded and properly paid for the level at which they are working.
• Create a single national preceptorship framework, guaranteeing every newly qualified nurse a consistent, high‑quality start to their career.

Professor Rita Devlin, Executive Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, said the announcements represent a significant breakthrough for nursing in England and one that must now be reflected in Northern Ireland:

“Nursing staff in Northern Ireland deserve the same level of investment, recognition and support as their colleagues in England. The commitments secured there represent a major step forward for the profession, one that addresses fairness, career progression and the long‑term sustainability of the workforce.

“Far too many nurses have been undervalued for the breadth of their skills and responsibilities, with many beginning and ending their careers on the same low pay band. The RCN has made a strong case for better career pathways, and the government has responded with meaningful commitments for NHS staff in England. For those who receive a band uplift, this represents genuine change.

“We have been calling for this in Northern Ireland since we took our first strike action in 2019/20. While previous discussions with the Department of Health have been constructive, our expectation is clear: nurses in Northern Ireland must receive these same commitments. They must now follow the lead of England and implement this package in full, with the funding required to deliver it. We cannot, and must not, be left behind.”

The RCN will continue to engage directly with the Department of Health to secure equivalent commitments for Northern Ireland and will keep members updated as this work progresses.

You can find out more about the new measures in England here.