Government announces that NHS staff in England will receive a three percent pay rise

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has accepted recommendations of NHS independent pay review bodies in full for this year, resulting in a three percent pay rise for NHS workers.

NHS staff in England – including nurses, paramedics, consultants, and dentists – will receive a three percent pay rise backdated to April 2021 after the UK Government accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and the Review Body for Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration (DDRB).

It is intended to reward NHS staff for their invaluable contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the average nurse, this will mean an additional £1,000 a year, while many porters and cleaners will receive around £540.

The independent pay review bodies considered a range of evidence from organisations including government, the NHS and trade unions in order to reach their recommendations.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “NHS staff are rightly receiving a pay rise this year despite the wider public sector pay pause, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts. We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and I’m pleased to accept them in full, with a 3% pay rise for all staff in scope, from doctors and nurses to paramedics and porters.

“We will back the NHS as we focus our efforts on getting through this pandemic and tackling the backlog of other health problems that has built up. I will continue to do everything I can to support all those in our health service who are working so tirelessly to care for patients.”

However, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) has described this pay rise as “disappointing” and said it is not enough to prevent a workforce crisis in healthcare, risking patient care.

The society states that the announcement falls short of the four percent offered to NHS staff in Scotland and represents only a 0.5 per cent real-terms pay rise once the current inflation rate of 2.5 percent is taken into account.

Now, The CSP and other health unions are calling on governments in Westminster, Cardiff and Belfast to increase the pay award to reflect the real value of all NHS staff.

Karen Middleton, CSP chief executive, said: “This pay award, barely above inflation, risks deepening an NHS recruitment and retention crisis, impacting on patient care, at a time when Covid cases are rising; when many Covid rehab needs remain unmet; and when staff are also dealing with the backlog in non-Covid care.

“It is imperative that any pay award is fully funded and we will begin the work to clarify this immediately.”