NHS Staff to Receive 3.3% Pay Increase from April Amid Union Criticism
The Government has announced that more than 1.4 million NHS workers will receive a 3.3% pay rise effective from April. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised that this uplift exceeds the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast inflation rate of 2.2% for the 2026-27 period, describing it as a real-terms pay increase for NHS staff.
Union Backlash Over Below-Inflation Award
Despite the Government's positive framing, health unions have strongly criticised the pay award. Unison's head of health, Helga Pile, stated that hard-pressed NHS staff will be downright angry at another below-inflation pay award. She argued that staff are expected to deliver more while effectively receiving less as pay continues to slide behind living costs.
Mr Streeting highlighted that this increase will be delivered in pay packets from April, marking the first time in six years that NHS workers will receive their pay rise on schedule. He attributed this improvement to the Government's commitment to speeding up the pay review process, including remitting the pay review bodies months earlier than in previous years and submitting written evidence sooner.
Union Responses and Concerns
Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, welcomed the timely payment but noted that this award is just not enough to make up for more than a decade of pay cuts under the Tories. She confirmed that GMB representatives would meet to discuss the pay award and determine next steps, while also pushing for structural talks on the agenda for change.
Other union leaders expressed similar dissatisfaction:
- Jim Fahie of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy warned that the award would fall short of members' expectations, calling it a real-terms pay cut that makes no ground on restoration.
- Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives general secretary, described the award as an insult to midwives who work significant unpaid hours to keep services running.
- Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, criticised what she called the Labour Government's decision to ride roughshod over the health unions, warning it would worsen recruitment and retention crises.
- Professor Nicola Ranger of the Royal College of Nursing labelled the below-inflation award an insult and criticised the continued use of what she called an unfit Pay Review Body.
Government Defence and Process Changes
Mr Streeting defended the decision, stating he had accepted in full the recommendation from the NHS Pay Review Body. He emphasised the Government's efforts to ensure NHS workers receive their pay increase when due, acknowledging past difficulties when pay awards were not delivered on time.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about NHS staffing shortages, huge waiting lists, and the financial pressures facing healthcare workers. Unions argue that without addressing the unfair pay system and making substantial improvements, ambitions to make the NHS the country's best employer are unlikely to succeed.
