National Insurance rise leaves experienced nurses worse off, even with proposed pay increase

Responding to the National Insurance rise on 6 April 2022, RCN Wales Director, Helen Whyley, said:

“April 6 was the day that national insurance in the UK increased. This, among other concerning rising financial costs are set to leave an experienced nurse over £900 a year worse off in reals terms. This is even after the 3% proposed government pay award
Nurses in Wales, like the rest of the UK are already feeling an immense financial strain with the recent increase in petrol prices, heating bills and the cost of living crisis.

They have sacrificed so much in the pandemic, working tirelessly through such challenging times. It is unacceptable that they are now being asked to pay for the recovery of the very health and care system they kept running for the last two years.
Nursing staff are exhausted and understaffed - there are 1719 nursing vacancies in Wales - and many feel like leaving the profession they have worked so hard for.

The Welsh government must give nursing staff the pay rise they deserve that does not leave them worse off in real terms or, risk seeing the nursing vacancies increase.”

Notes to editors

A nurse at the top of Band 5 currently on an annual salary of £31,534 will be £935 worse off in real terms after the increase in National Insurance contributions and proposed pay rise of 3% with annual inflation forecast at 8% in 2022.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world.
For more information, contact the RCN press office at 02920680769 or email CommunicationsWales@rcn.org.uk