NHS staff including nurses and hospital consultants in England will receive a three per cent pay rise after the government accepted the recommendations of the independent pay review body.
The rise is far higher than the 1 per cent recommended by the Department for Health and Social Care – but far below the demands made by unions.
Health chiefs said it was important that the deal is “fully funded” by Government – saying they were awaiting the small print of the plans announced last night.
Officials said the pay rise would mean an additional £1,000 per year for the average nurse and a £540 annual increase for porters and cleaners.
The pay rise will be backdated to April 2021, with the 3 per cent also covering dentists, paramedics and salaried GPs.
The Royal College of Nursing said the announcement was “shambolic” and would not keep pace with inflation. The union had called for a rise of 12.5 per cent.
Health 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 per cent 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.”
The announcement was finally made on Wednesday night, having been expected in Parliament earlier.
