January 16th 2024
A separate pay scale could be in the pipeline for nurses in England
Central government has launched a call for evidence to weigh up the pros and cons of implementing a separate pay structure for NHS nurses.
The topic of pay for healthcare professionals has been up for debate since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. In November 2022 the Royal College of Nursing were the first union to announce their strike dates and were later followed by other health experts including ambulance drivers, consultants, and junior doctors.
However, despite recent news that the majority of unions had received a sufficient pay rise offer from the government, nurses weren’t so fortunate. Union members rejected a 5% increase towards the end of last year, although they failed to pass a ballot in support of further industrial action, meaning they have had to abstain from further strike action.
Against this backdrop, the former health and social care secretary, Steve Barclay, said during pay discussions last year that the government wanted to take action to address specific challenges faced by nursing staff in terms of recruitment, retention, and professional development.
In a bid to stay committed to this pledge, last week the government asked nurses and other healthcare professionals to contribute to an online consultation, which is set to run for 12 weeks. Authorities are looking to understand whether the Agenda for Change (AfC) contract is creating specific barriers to the career progression of nurses and to identify potential solutions to the problem.
Currently, the AfC contract sets out pay scales for all NHS staff apart from doctors, dentists, and the majority of senior managers. Registered nurses working clinically will typically be on bands 5-7 which, under the current AfC scales, provides a pay range of £28,407 to £50,056.
‘We hugely value the work of nurses, who play a vital role in the NHS,’ health minister Andrew Stephenson said. ‘We have listened to union concerns and are launching this call for evidence to explore the risks and benefits of a separate pay structure for nurses.’
Mr Stephenson added: ‘I want stakeholders to share their expertise and help us collate feedback from across the healthcare sector, ultimately helping to make the NHS a better place to work.’
In response to the announcement, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Pat Cullen said: ‘The current pay scale turns 20 years old this year and no longer reflects the skills and expertise in nursing today.
‘Despite many years of experience, the vast majority of nurses are on the lowest pay bands possible.’
‘Our workforce is 90% female, and a new structure can remove the gender disadvantages at present and dispel completely the idea that nursing is less skilled, women’s work and worthy of low pay and poor treatment,’ Ms Cullen said. ‘Record unfilled nurse jobs in recent years are a sign of structural problems as well as underinvestment by the government.’
Image: SJ Objio
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