Pay for NHS Staff

Nurses, paramedics and other Agenda for Change (AfC) staff are the backbone of our health service. They should be paid fairly and receive the terms and conditions they deserve.

I know how challenging the last 14 years have been for NHS staff, which is why I welcome AfC staff receiving an above-inflation pay rise of 3.6% for 2025 to 2026, following an increase in 2024.

I believe NHS staff should receive their pay uplifts at the start of the financial year. Ministers took steps to accelerate this year’s pay review process, which meant awards were received two months earlier than in the previous year. While this marks progress, more remains to be done, and I welcome the ambition to implement pay awards as early as possible in future years.

The Government has accepted the pay review body's recommendations in full. This includes providing the NHS Staff Council – which oversees the AfC pay system - with dedicated funding to improve the Agenda for Change (AfC) structure, which is the same changes UNISON members have called for. The Government has said it is committed to delivering these improvements as soon as possible. The Government continues to work in partnership with trade unions like UNISON, not just on pay, but on the broader issues affecting staff wellbeing and retention. This includes tackling violence against NHS staff and improving career progression for nurses.

I welcome the publication of the Government’s 10 Year Health plan for England, to rebuild our NHS and make it fit for the future. It sets out an ambition for the NHS to be not only the country’s biggest employer but also its best, with staff better treated, more motivated and provided with improved training and more scope to develop their careers. Ministers will also publish a new NHS workforce plan next spring that aligns with the new ten-year plan.