Nurses in England vote to reject government's 5.5% pay rise

23 September 2024, 12:56 | Updated: 23 September 2024, 13:13

Nurses in England vote to reject government's 5.5% pay rise
Nurses in England vote to reject government's 5.5% pay rise. Picture: Alamy

By Danielle de Wolfe

Nurses across England have rejected a new 5.5% pay offer tabled by the Government.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England rejected the deal by two-thirds in a record high turnout of around 145,000.

The pay award was announced by the Chancellor at the end of July, shortly after Labour won the general election.

It comes a week after junior doctors accepted a 22 per cent pay increase over 2 years.

According to the RCN the pay of experienced nurses fell by 25% in real terms under the Conservative government between 2010 to 2024.

File photo dated 18/01/23 of a general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward. Nurses have rejected the Government's pay award of a 5.5% rise, it has been announced. ssue date: Monday September 23, 2024.
File photo dated 18/01/23 of a general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward. Nurses have rejected the Government's pay award of a 5.5% rise, it has been announced. ssue date: Monday September 23, 2024. Picture: Alamy

The deal came after almost two years of ongoing strike action by junior doctors across the UK.

The RCN said the high turnout surpassed the level seen in two statutory ballots for industrial action held by the union in 2022 and 2023, the first of which permitted six months of strike action by nursing staff.

Read more: Anti-Israel heckler disrupts Rachel Reeves's speech at Labour conference

Read more: Rachel Reeves accepts donations appear ‘a little bit odd’ - as she admits accepting gifted family holiday to Cornwall

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, RCN general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger 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.

"Many will support the new Government's health and care agenda as set out in recent weeks and fully recognise the diagnosis of a failing NHS.

London, UK. 1st May 2023. Royal College of Nursing picket outside University College Hospital as nurses begin a fresh strike over pay. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy
London, UK. 1st May 2023. Royal College of Nursing picket outside University College Hospital as nurses begin a fresh strike over pay. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy. Picture: Alamy

"Working closely with all other professionals, nursing staff are the lifeblood of the service.

"The Government will find our continued support for the reforms key to their success."

It follows a 28-hour walkout by cancer nurses in April, which marked the biggest strike by nurses in UK history.

It forced hospital bosses to warn of "exceptionally low" staffing levels at many UK hospitals.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with a drone operator as he is shown the procedures carried out by search teams as they check vehicles arriving in the ferry port from Italy, in Tirana, Albania, Thursday

Keir Starmer steps up migrant crackdown as he announces 'return hubs' for failed asylum seekers

The co-founder of Ben and Jerry's ice cream was arrested and dragged out of a US Senate committee hearing after protesting US policy on the war in Gaza.

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder arrested at US Capitol after Gaza war protest

Exclusive
Kim Leadbeater

Assisted dying bill ‘stronger’ after MPs scrap High Court judge sign-off, claims Kim Leadbeater

An estimated 7.42million treatments were waiting to be carried out, new figures show

NHS waiting list for hospital treatment rises for first time in seven months

Russia confirms Vladimir Putin will not attend peace talks in Turkey - as Zelenskyy touches down in Istanbul

Putin branded a 'dead man walking' by experts - as Russia confirms leader will not attend peace talks in Turkey

Harvard Law School paid just $27.50 (then about £7) for the document in 1946

Magna Carta ‘copy’ bought by Harvard law school for $27 in 1940 now believed to be genuine

Players of Arsenal celebrate with goalscorer Kim Little during the Barclays Womens Super League game between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on May 10

Women's Champions League final 2025: How to watch, which pubs are showing match, Arsenal team news

File handout photo supplied by the Metropolitan Police showing a baby boy, known as Baby Harry, who was found abandoned in a park area near Balaam Street in Plaistow, east London, on September 17, 2017.

Hunt to find mother of three children abandoned in London across eight years narrowed down to just 400 homes

The passenger was travelling from Spain at the time - Airport Palma de Mallorca PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN - Ryanair branded Boeing 737 NG / Max

Ryanair ordered to refund passenger £124 after court rules hand luggage is 'essential' and not an 'add-on' charge

The overhaul will link senior NHS pay to performance, mirroring practices in other sectors. Critics, including the Royal College of Nursing, warn it could demoralise frontline staff and deepen existing divides.

“Carrot and stick” NHS reform to offer £45k bonus for top managers – and dock £15k from failing chiefs

Fans could be toasting into the early hours this summer if England or Wales make it to the Women’s Euros final stages, with pubs allowed to open until 1am.

Late licences for Lionesses and Wales fans if teams reach Women’s Euros final stages

Bank Of England In The City Of London

UK economy grew more than expected in first three months of 2025, official figures show

The findings suggest picky eaters at the age of 13 were more likely than non-picky children to avoid meat, fish and fruit in their packed lunches.

School dinners may encourage picky teenagers to eat better, study suggests

'Extreme winds' sank Bayesian superyacht killing Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others.

'Extreme winds' sank Bayesian superyacht killing Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others

Scarlett Johansson was also critical of artificial intelligence (AI) in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine.

Actor Scarlett Johansson has said filmmakers are being 'muzzled' by 'big tech guys'

Some 320 patients a week may have died needlessly in England last year.

320 A&E patients die needlessly every week linked to hospital bed waits