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More than one million NHS workers – including nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists – are set to receive a 5% pay rise after the NHS Staff Council voted to accept the government’s pay offer.
The deal was agreed after the government and 14 health unions met to discuss the pay offer. Some of the biggest unions in the NHS (such as Unison and the GMB) backed the offer, which resulted in a majority vote in favour of the pay offer.
However, members of the RCN and UNITE rejected the offer and are therefore still in formal dispute with the government. Both unions have said the pay deal will not stop further strikes from going ahead.
In a letter to the health secretary, RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said: “I entirely respect those, in our membership and that of other unions, who voted to accept. However, that was not the prevailing view of nursing staff. Nursing is the largest part of the NHS workforce and they require an offer that matches their true value.”
Immediate strike action from the RCN is not possible for the time being, as its six-month mandate expired on Monday 1st May. The union will now have to re-ballot its members, with further strike action expected to take place between June and December 2023.
Government urged to implement the deal “as soon as possible”
The Health and Social Secretary Steve Barclay said he is “pleased” the pay offer has been accepted, and hopes the deal will make union members recognise this as a “fair outcome” and decide it is time to bring industrial action to an end.
“We will continue to engage constructively with unions on workforce changes to ensure the NHS is the best place to work for staff, patients and taxpayers,” he said.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, is now urging the government to implement the deal as soon as possible to make sure local NHS leaders are not forced to cover the increased cost from their existing budgets.
“Failure to do this would have an extremely negative impact on patient care at a time when there are still millions of people on waiting lists. The government promised previously that there will be no impact on frontline services or to the quality of care as a result of the offer, which must be reflected in the additional funding that now emerges.
“The budget set by the Chancellor in March only allowed for a 3.5% rise, which falls short of the 5% that has just been accepted by the NHS Staff Council,” he said.
NHS Employers says eligible staff can expect to receive the additional 2022/23 payment and the new 2023/24 pay rates (including back pay to 1 April) as part of their pay in June.
BMA and health secretary have reopened pay talks
Mr Taylor added that NHS leaders are “eager” for the government to resolve the situation with the trade unions who are planning further strike action, including the BMA, which represents junior doctors.
“The last junior doctor strike saw 196,000 appointments and planned procedures needing to be postponed. So, while the NHS Staff Council outcome is very positive news overall, it is not the line in the sand that will allow the NHS and those relying on its care, to confidently move on from the threat of future strikes,” he said.
The BMA is now conducting further talks with the health secretary, with one discussion taking place yesterday (2 May). Following the meeting, a BMA spokesperson said: “BMA Junior Doctors Committee negotiators welcomed a discussion this afternoon with Government negotiators, in preparation for talks aimed at resolving the current junior doctors dispute.
“There is significant work to do, and both parties will meet again in the coming days. We are seeking urgent progress.”