Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the uplift was above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast inflation of 2.2% for 2026-27.
More than 1.4 million NHS workers will receive a 3.3% pay rise from April, the Government has announced.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the uplift was above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast inflation of 2.2% for 2026-27, delivering a “real terms pay rise” for NHS staff.
But health unions criticised the increase. Unison’s head of health Helga Pile said: “Hard-pressed NHS staff will be downright angry at another below-inflation pay award.”
Mr Streeting said the increase will be in pay packets from April for the first time in six years.
“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.”
