NHS workers to get 3.3% pay rise from April

More than 1.4 million NHS workers will receive a 3.3% pay rise from April, the government has announced.

The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said the uplift was above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast of 2.2% inflation for 2026-27, delivering a “real-terms pay rise” for NHS staff.

But health unions criticised the amount. Unison’s head of health, Helga Pile, said: “Hard-pressed NHS staff will be downright angry at another below-inflation pay award.” Inflation rose to 3.4% in December, the latest figure.

Streeting said the increase would be in pay packets from April for the first time in six years. He said: “We have listened to the workforce and understand the difficulties they face when pay awards are not delivered on time. That’s why this government committed to speeding up the pay review process, remitting the pay review bodies months earlier than previous years, and submitting written evidence earlier too.

“In making this award, I am accepting in full the recommendation from the NHS pay review body.”

More details soon …