NHS salary pay rise 2024/2025: What can we expect? When will it be announced?

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With the government transition underway, a new pay proposal for NHS nurses is anticipated soon. However, several other elements might influence this outcome. Once again, the announcement about the 2024 NHS pay rises has been delayed, creating a sense of déjà vu. The recent general election provided a valid reason for this delay, but speculation continues about the details and timing of the 2024 pay rise. Here’s the latest information.

Expected Pay Rise for NHS Nurses

Analysts and experts have been suggesting that a pay increase of 2% or 3% is most likely. The NHS Pay Scales, which is the NHS’s official pay resource, predicts a raise between 2.5% and 3%. Meanwhile, NHS England has advised the NHS Pay Review Body that the pay rise should not exceed 2%, arguing that higher increases could strain current funding and negatively impact staffing and services.

Basis for the 2-3% Pay Rise

The primary factor influencing the 2024 NHS pay rise decision is inflation. Last year, high inflation rates around 8% were a major consideration. This year, inflation has decreased to 2%. Typically, pay rises should align with inflation rates, meaning salaries should increase to match the rise in living costs.

Timing of the NHS Nursing Pay Rise

The 2023 pay rise was officially introduced in May 2023, making this year’s announcement significantly late, leading to considerable criticism. Nonetheless, the pay increase will be retroactive. The delay is not surprising, given that the new Labour government will want to establish its NHS policies, including pay rises. It made little sense for the outgoing government to decide on this just before an election. Although frustrating for NHS nurses, delays were unavoidable in 2024.

Additional One-Off Payment in 2024

In 2023, NHS nurses received an extra one-off payment, but this is not expected to recur in 2024. Last year, NHS pay had fallen behind significantly, and inflation was at its peak, making the one-off payment necessary to mitigate the impact. The outlook for 2024/2025 is still challenging, but with lower inflation, the situation is not as dire as last year.

Next Steps

An announcement is expected soon, possibly in the next few weeks, and certainly within the next few months. The longer the delay, the more complex the situation could become. Inflation might decrease further or rise again. The Labour government might also want to demonstrate their support for the NHS by announcing a higher-than-expected pay rise. While we have an idea of what could happen, nothing is certain yet.