NHS staff deserve more than a 2.8% pay rise!

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Ambulance staff with equipment

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has submitted their evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) stating that “DHSC has set aside a total of 2.8% to invest in pay for the Agenda for Change workforce in 2025 to 2026”

Whilst this is not the PRB’s final decision, it is a clear steer from UK Government on the 2025/26 pay increase. Our NHS workers deserve much more!

2.8% is likely to be less than April 2025’s rate of inflation and this does not address the historic real terms pay erosion in the NHS. Since 2010, inflation has risen by over 30% leaving the average band 5 NHS worker over £11,000 worse off in real terms.

We demand the Government allocate more money and give NHS workers a pay rise that is fair.


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To: Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
From: [Your Name]

Dear Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,

We, the undersigned, are calling on you the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to revisit this decision and allocate more money for NHS pay.

The NHS is about to experience the worst winter ever. The many problems the service faces, including the recruitment and retention crisis, will not be addressed by a pay cutting [or below inflation] 2.8% pay increase, leading to less safe, efficient and effective care.

NHS staff deserve a pay rise that restores pay to the real terms’ levels seen in 2010.

We demand the Government take action now.

Thank you for your interest and for supporting Unite’s campaign Ι This petition will be shared with Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA