RCN members in Wales overwhelmingly reject NHS pay award

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales have rejected the Welsh government’s proposed 5.5% pay increase for NHS nursing staff for 2024/25.

In a consultation held between 25 September and 25 October, 72% of RCN members in Wales voted against the pay award, saying it fails to adequately recognise their essential role and the critical nature of their work.

The First Minister announced the 5.5% pay increase in September, with the payment expected to be reflected in November salaries and backdated to April 2024.

However, the RCN in Wales argues that this increase does not address the longstanding issue of underpayment in the nursing profession and does little to support the recruitment and retention of staff essential to the sustainability of the NHS in Wales.

“Our members have spoken loudly and clearly: nursing staff in Wales know their worth,” said Helen Whyley, RCN Wales Executive Director.

“After years of underpayment, this award fails to match the safety-critical nature of their work and the extensive skills they bring to the NHS.”

Nursing staff have raised concerns over what they describe as an ongoing failure by the government to fairly compensate them, which they argue contributes to the challenges facing the NHS in Wales.

Ms Whyley highlighted the need for improved pay as crucial to stabilising the health service, saying, “With the NHS in Wales in a fragile state, it is imperative that the Welsh government commits to valuing nursing staff to strengthen recruitment and retention, which will, in turn, improve patient care.”

The RCN, representing over 30,500 members in Wales, has now called on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to engage in “urgent talks toward pay restoration” to address what it calls “historical underpayment” of nursing professionals.

While this consultation was not a formal ballot on industrial action, it reflects the level of dissatisfaction within the nursing community.

The RCN has pointed to similar dissatisfaction among members in England, where NHS staff have also expressed concerns over pay and conditions, adding to the broader conversation around healthcare staffing issues across the UK.

As the 5.5% pay increase moves forward as an award rather than an offer, the Welsh government is not obligated to alter the payment based on the consultation outcome.

However, RCN Wales has stated that it will continue to advocate for nursing staff, urging the Welsh government to recognise the critical role of fair pay in supporting an overstretched NHS.