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Nurses on picket line

Fair Pay for Nursing

Learn about our campaign and see how you can get involved

Join us to demand pay justice for nursing staff

Nursing staff are chronically undervalued. Despite nursing being a highly skilled, degree-educated, safety-critical profession, outdated pay structures mean that many nursing staff begin and end their careers at the same pay level.

The situation is critical. Poor pay and working conditions are forcing staff to leave nursing. Almost half of the thousands of frontline NHS staff we recently surveyed say theyÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™re actively planning or considering leaving their job.

We know that when nursing staff are paid fairly, offered career progression and work in fully staffed teams, they're more likely to stay in the profession.

We need members and supporters to come together to demand pay justice, improved career progression and safe staffing measures to address the workforce crisis in our health systems and deliver the recognition nursing staff deserve.

Nursing needs a fresh start

In January, the UK government launched a consultation to explore the creation of a separate pay structure, also known as a pay spine, for nursing staff working for the NHS in England.

Our members helped shape our response to the consultation. In April, we submitted our response.  

NHS pay consultation in England: the results are in

By rising up together, our members have sent a clear message that they expect more for themselves, their patients and the NHS they believe in.

Our profession is undervalued and even the highest consolidated pay award in over a decade is not enough.

An RCN member holding a sign that says Fair pay for nursing: Vote for change

NHS pay consultation in Scotland: the results are in

The 5.5% pay increase does not make up for the years of being undervalued but it is another step on the journey to fair pay.

Our campaign continues and there is still much to do to ensure the safety critical role of nursing is recognised and rewarded.

An RCN member with a sign that says it's time to pay nursing staff fairly

Our fight for fair pay

We're calling on governments across the UK to show that they value nursing as the skilled and safety-critical profession it is. Politicians must:

  • Recognise that nursing wage rises have consistently been below inflation for the past 13 years. The impact of this has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.
  • Value the care that nursing staff provide every day, and the training, qualifications, skills and responsibilities required by their roles.
  • Commit to a substantial, above-inflation pay rise, to recognise the chronic workforce shortages and encourage staff to join and stay in the profession.
  • Introduce measures to improve long-term career prospects for nursing staff.
  • Create a fresh start for nursing as an attractive, rewarding profession to tackle the tens of thousands of unfilled nursing posts.  

The role of the NHS Pay Review Body 

Governments can use different routes to determine pay increases. Often governments in the UK ask review bodies to look at evidence and make recommendations on public sector pay before ministers set an award.

The Westminster government decides pay awards for NHS staff employed on Agenda for Change contracts in England following recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body. Governments in Wales and Northern Ireland do the same for NHS staff in their respective countries, though they are often influenced by decisions made by the Westminster government. In Scotland, for the past few years, we have negotiated NHS pay directly with the Scottish government.

While the process only applies to NHS pay, the outcome tends to set a precedent for what nursing staff in independent and other health and social care settings are paid. 

Submitting evidence 

In February, we submitted evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body setting out our demands for nursing staff.

We made 3 clear calls relating to pay and opportunities for career progression to stem the loss of nursing staff and protect patients.

We expect to hear from the government imminently with their proposed pay award for 2024/25.

Nursing staff at a demonstration holding signs saying 'Fair Pay For Nursing' and 'Safe Staffing Save Lives'

Pay justice through job evaluation

For years, we’ve called for revised national nursing role profiles, so that nursing staff are graded correctly from the outset.

Progress is now being made by NHS Staff Council’s Job Evaluation Group to update job profiles to accurately reflect the duties of modern nursing at each pay band. But revised job profiles don’t go far enough.

Image of nurse with her arms folded

Latest campaign news

  • Fair Pay For Nursing 28 Jul 2023

    CQC pay consultation now open

    Eligible members working for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can now vote in our consultative ballot on the CQCÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s improved pay award for 2022-23.

  • Fair Pay For Nursing 18 Jul 2023

    RCN to consult members on improved CQC pay award

    After three months of industrial action, members working at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have received a new pay award for 2022/23.

  • 14 Jul 2023

    Manx Care nurses to strike this month

    The ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ has confirmed that its members will take strike action this month after a majority voted in favour in June.

Visit our Strike Hub

Stay up to date with new details about strike action, learn about strike benefit, donate to our strike fund and more.

Image of nurse standing on picket line holding placard

Your strength is in your numbers

Our fight for fair pay in independent health and social care

We campaign for nursing staff in all settings to receive fair pay, no matter what sector theyÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™re employed in. 
Nurses protesting fair pay at Westminster

Become a member of the RCN

Join the world's largest union and professional body for nursing.

Join online or call our membership team on .
nursing staff walking in corridor

Page last updated - 25/10/2024