Government Announces 3% Pay Rise For Nurses

"The RCN had called for a 12.5% pay increase – which inevitably makes a 3% rise feel insufficient for many."

We explain the 3% pay increase for Nurses and other NHS staff, and what that looks like against inflation and the rising cost of living. Share your views with us in the comments.

Following months of confusion and speculation, the government has announced that NHS staff, including Nurses, will receive a 3% pay rise.

This pay rise will be backdated to April 2021.

According to the government, this will mean a £1000 annual increase in the average Nurse’s salary.

However, with the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) threatening to strike over the announcement, it doesn’t yet feel like the issue has been satisfactorily dealt with.

A U-Turn That Doesn’t Go Far Enough?

The government proposed a 1% pay rise back in March, which was heavily criticised by trade unions and the RCN.

Subsequently, the independent NHS pay review body has proposed a 3% increase instead, which the government has accepted.

However, the RCN had called for a 12.5% pay increase – which inevitably makes a 3% rise feel insufficient for many.

Other unions, including the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, have also said that the pay rise is a disappointment.

The 3% pay rise will be applied in Wales too, whereas in Scotland, a 4% pay rise is already in place.

How Much Difference Will 3% Make?

Many of the arguments surrounding this debate will likely focus on what kind of impact a 3% pay rise will have on Nurses at different stages of their career.

Clearly, part of the problem is that across-the-board increases like this will benefit those Nurses on higher salaries more than those on lower salaries.

The other big issue is the impact this increase will have relative to inflation and living costs.

Many claim that 3% is insufficient because inflation actually makes this a real-terms decrease.

And living costs are rising as a result of various economic challenges, including the fallout from COVID-19 and Brexit.

That’s not forgetting the fact that nursing salaries go much further in some parts of the country than others.

Therefore, the government’s claim that this increase will add £1000 to the average Nurse’s annual pay packet has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Your Views

Nurses.co.uk is a nursing community, with content shaped by the experiences and opinions of real Nurses throughout the UK.

So, what’s your view on the 3% pay rise?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

*Please note, we are currently working on updating all of our pay-related guides and articles to reflect the 3% pay increase.