NHS pay - what is happening and how you can get involved

A quick guide to understand what is going on

NHS pay is usually set through the Pay Review Body (PRB) process. The PRB is independent from government and reviews information and evidence from health unions, the government itself, and NHS employers. It will then make recommendations to ministers, who decide whether to accept them. 

This year, NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be covered by this PRB process. The Scottish government is not putting evidence into the PRB process.  Instead, pay will be agreed between the government and NHS trade unions. At the time of writing, the Scottish government has proposed a four per cent rise and health unions, including the CSP, will be consulting their members. 

Fair pay

The CSP believes a significant pay rise is crucial to recognise the loss in pay that has come from a decade of austerity, and the value of NHS staff that has been so clearly demonstrated during the pandemic. With recruitment and retention a key government target, fair pay is needed to ensure the NHS is sustainable into the future. 

The one per cent pay increase suggested by the government is not a pay award/final decision; it is the proposal that the Department of Health and Social Care has submitted in their evidence to the PRB in their very late submission to the body. 

The CSP has submitted evidence in support of a much more substantial pay rise.

What next?

• the PRB will now consider all the evidence, including conducting ‘oral evidence’ sessions with all parties to supplement the written submissions
• we expect the PRB to announce its recommendations to government in May and then shortly after this the government will announce the award for England
• in Wales, the health minister has already committed to honouring the PRB's recommendations
• between now and then the CSP with all the other health unions, will continue our campaign for a rise significantly higher than one per cent. We will also call on the PRB to listen to all the evidence, including our own, and to exercise its independence from government in making its recommendation.

CSP's Claire Sullivan on why 1% is not enough

The CSP responds to government's evidence to the PRB

CSP pay resources