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What’s happened so far 

In February, the Westminster government announced the 2026/27 NHS pay award will be 3.3%. The government misled unions to expect direct negotiations on a multi-year pay deal. Instead, it’s returning to a flawed NHS Pay Review Body process that has failed nursing staff.

While we’ll continue to push for the pay award you deserve year on year, we recognise that no cost-of-living award will ever be enough to reform a broken pay structure that undervalues nursing.

We delivered that message loud and clear to government ministers and, after months of discussions, the Westminster government has made three commitments to:

1. increase graduate pay
2. review the work and salary of every nurse paid at band 5
3. establish a single national nursing preceptorship  

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What happens next? 

Your elected members will now consider the detail. They’ll look at whether this is fair treatment compared to other professions and sectors and understand what the government means when it asks for talks on reforming the structure of Agenda for Change.

But the evidence is clear – low pay and poor working conditions have brought morale down to a historic low and it won't be tolerated. 

What’s happened so far

The recommendations for a 3.3% pay award for the 2026/27 financial year also apply to NHS and HSC staff in Northern Ireland. In England and Wales this increase will be paid from 1 April 2026, but nursing staff in Northern Ireland are yet again being left without any certainty about when they will receive it, which must be resolved urgently.

What happens next?

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirmed his full commitment to ensuring staff receive this pay award as soon as possible. Despite this, no funding has been made available by the Northern Ireland Executive.

What's happened so far?

We consulted our members in Scotland who accepted the Scottish government’s NHS pay offer of 4.25% for 2025-26 and 3.75% for 2026-27. The offer also included an inflation guarantee to ensure the increase in pay each year is a minimum of one percentage point higher than average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation.

What's happening now?

While an annual cost-of-living increase has been agreed for 2025-26 and 2026-27, we continue to push for structural reform of Agenda for Change terms and conditions agreed in the previous 2023-24 pay deal. We've seen significant success with the review of band 5 nursing roles, but we need more members to apply to have their role reviewed and the decision-making process to speed up. We're also pressing health boards to ensure all members receive the protected time for learning they are now contractually entitled to.

We've been clear with Scottish government and the health boards that the full 1.5 hour reduction in the working week must be implemented on 1 April 2026. Looking ahead, we expect the new Scottish government, elected in May, to commit to entering direct negotiations with the ¹úÄÚ¾«Æ·ÒÁÈ˾þþþø¾ and other health trade unions as quickly as possible to enable us to reach a pay settlement in advance of 1 April 2027. 

What’s happened so far

In February, the Westminster government announced the 2026/27 NHS pay award will be 3.3%. The award applies in Wales, Northern Ireland and England from 1 April.

What happens next?

Your elected members will now consider the detail. They’ll look at whether this is fair treatment compared to other professions and sectors and understand what the government means when it asks for talks on reforming the structure of Agenda for Change.

But the evidence is clear – low pay and poor working conditions have brought morale down to a historic low and it won't be tolerated.

What's happened so far?

Jersey

Members accepted a three-year deal of pay increases beginning in 2024 and extending until 2026. The current pay offer is: 2024 – A pay increase of 8% (consolidated) 2025 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2024) 2026 – A guarantee of RPI + 1% (RPI as at September 2025).

Guernsey

Members accepted a one-year pay offer that will uplift all pay and allowances by 5% from 1 January 2025. 

Isle of Man

In November 2024, members employed by Manx Care voted to reject a 4% pay uplift with effect from 1 April 2024. 70% of those who voted in a subsequent indicative ballot said they would consider strike action.

What's happening now?

Jersey

Guernsey

Isle of Man