The government has announced a pay rise for NHS staff following recommendations from the independent NHS pay review bodies.

NHS staff including nurses, paramedics and midwives will receive a pay rise of at least £1,400, with some of the lowest earners, such as porters and cleaners, to receive a 9.3 per cent rise. Some doctors and dentists will also get a 4.5 per cent rise.

Evidence from the government, the NHS and trade unions was considered by the pay review bodies.

All NHS staff covered by this year’s pay review will get a pay rise. Staff under the Agenda for Change contract, including nurses, paramedics and midwives will receive a pay rise backdated to April.

The pay rise means that average basic pay for nurses will increase to around £37,000, with basic pay for newly qualified nurses rising to £27,055.

A 4.5 per cent rise will be applicable to dentists and doctors within the Doctors and Dentists’ Remuneration Body (DDRB) remit this year.

According to the government press release, these are the highest uplifts in public sector pay in nearly twenty years.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "This government hugely values and appreciates the dedication and contribution of NHS staff which is why we will give over one million NHS workers a pay rise of £1,400 this year, on top of the 3% they received last year when pay rises were temporarily paused in the wider public sector.

"We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and I am pleased to accept them in full.

We want a fair deal for staff. Very high inflation-driven settlements would have a worse impact on pay packets in the long run than proportionate and balanced increases now, and it is welcome that the pay review bodies agree with this approach."

Those in multi-year deals are not included in this pay rise. This includes junior doctors who were covered by a 2018 multi-year pay deal between the government and the BMA.

The pay rise has been criticised by some as a real-terms pay cut, as it is not in line with inflation. Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: “This is a grave misstep by ministers … they have enforced another real-terms pay cut on nursing staff. It will push more nurses and nursing support workers out of the profession.”