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England’s Nurses Reject 5.5% Pay Rise

Nurses in England have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to award a 5.5% pay rise, deeming it insufficient. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reported that two-thirds of its 145,000 members who participated in an online vote believed the pay increase was not fair. This pay award for 2024-2025 was announced by the Chancellor in July, shortly after Labour won the general election. In response, RCN general secretary, Professor Nicola Ranger, wrote to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, highlighting the determination of nursing staff to advocate for themselves, their patients, and the NHS.

Despite their frustrations, the union is not planning to ask members whether they want to take strike action at this stage. Instead, the RCN is waiting to see how the government responds to the overwhelming vote against the pay rise. One of the key arguments from the RCN is that the pay of experienced nurses has fallen by 25% in real terms between 2010 and 2024, under the Conservative governments. This follows a difficult period for the nursing profession, which saw strike action in late 2022 and early 2023. However, these strikes ended after other NHS unions accepted a deal made by the Conservative government in the spring of 2023. The RCN was unable to gather enough support from nurses to continue the strikes.

Professor Ranger also pointed out that nurses feel undervalued, especially given the ongoing challenges of understaffed shifts, poor patient care, and nursing careers trapped at the lowest pay grades. As ministers prepare to introduce a new health and social care agenda, she noted that the government will need to ensure safe staffing levels and a workforce that feels appreciated if they are to successfully raise standards and reform the NHS.

The announcement of the nurses’ dissatisfaction with their pay rise comes at a time when junior doctors, now referred to as resident doctors, have voted to accept a multi-year pay rise to end their long-standing dispute. Reflecting on this, Professor Ranger was clear that nurses do not begrudge the doctors for their pay increase, but they are seeking the same fair treatment from the government.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting responded by acknowledging the difficulties nurses have faced over the past few years. He expressed an understanding of the challenging economic circumstances but pointed out that the pay rise awarded to nurses was above inflation. He also emphasised that, for the first time in a long time, nurses now have a government that is on their side and committed to working with them to guide the NHS out of its current crisis. Streeting’s comments reflected the Labour government’s broader ambition to restore the NHS and make it fit for the future, with a commitment to working alongside NHS staff to achieve this goal.

While nurses in England have rejected the 5.5% pay rise, RCN members in Scotland have voted to accept the same increase. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government suggested that Scotland’s pay offer started from a higher baseline than England’s, which may explain the different outcome in each country.

In light of these developments, the dissatisfaction among nurses in England signals a broader issue. Nurses have long felt that their pay and working conditions do not reflect their critical role within the healthcare system. As the government prepares to roll out its new health reforms, it will need to ensure that nursing staff feel valued and adequately compensated to retain their support and enable them to deliver the high level of care that the NHS is known for.