The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England has announced that its members have overwhelmingly rejected the government’s offer of a 5.5% pay rise for the current year. Two-thirds of nursing staff voted against the proposal, with a record 145,000 members participating in the vote, the report indicated.
RCN General Secretary, Professor Nicola Ranger, addressed the outcome in a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, said, “We are witnessing a fundamental shift in the determination of nursing staff to stand up for themselves, their patients, and the NHS they believe in.” She emphasized the critical role nursing professionals play in the health service, adding, “Nursing staff are the lifeblood of the service.”
Ranger stressed the need for proper staffing and recognition to achieve NHS reforms, said “To raise standards and reform the NHS, you need safe numbers, and they need to feel valued. This outcome shows their expectations of government are far higher.”
The rejection comes amid concerns over understaffed shifts, poor patient care, and stagnant wages. “Nursing careers trapped at the lowest pay grades” were cited as ongoing issues by Professor Ranger.
The pay deal, announced in July by Chancellor Rachel Reeves following Labour’s general election victory, was accepted by several other health unions. However, the high turnout in the RCN’s vote, surpassing even the two statutory ballots for industrial action in 2022 and 2023, reflects deep dissatisfaction among nursing professionals.
While junior doctors agreed to a multi-year pay rise last week, resolving their own long-running dispute, nurses remain firm in their stance, calling for a more substantial commitment from the government.
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