Nursing Pay in Wales

On 4 November, RCN Wales announced that its members working for NHS Wales rejected the 5.5% 2024/24 pay award from Welsh government. Read the news story in full here.

Of the eligible members who cast their vote, 72% said they didn’t accept the 5.5% award.

The pay award was announced by the First Minister in September as she accepted the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full, awarding a 5.5% consolidated pay increase for NHS Wales staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

This award is expected to be paid this month and will be backdated to 1 April 2024.The Welsh government also accepted PRB recommendations to introduce intermediate pay points for Bands 8 and above. Read the Welsh government’s statement.

The RCN has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to engage in urgent talks toward pay restoration.

The Royal College of Nursing Wales launched its latest member consultation on the latest NHS pay award for nursing staff in Wales in September. 

• recognising that salaries of nursing professionals has consistently fallen below inflation – a fact which is being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis – and must now rise significantly to reflect that
• valuing the training, qualifications, skills, responsibilities and experience demonstrated every day by nursing staff
• ensuring that nursing is seen as an attractive, rewarding profession to tackle the tens of thousands of unfilled nursing posts.

Ultimately, it's about providing safe and effective care for all people of the United Kingdom.

We are clear that nursing staff deserve the same and fair pay no matter the setting or sector.

The Fair Pay for Nursing campaign aims to secure a significant pay increase for all nursing staff covered by Agenda for Change terms. It should apply equally to all NHS nursing staff at all Agenda for Change pay bands.

Health is devolved, and funding our health and care system is a political choice.