The UK government has declared a raft of new public sector pay rises in England. So, most doctors, nurses, teachers, civil servants, and the armed forces will see an increase in their salaries.
The declaration today occurred following recommendations by independent pay review bodies. However, the pay rises took place with a mixed response from unions. Some stated they do not go far enough, and in the case of teachers are not being appropriately funded.
The NHS pay rise will differ across the NHS workforce, doctors are set to get a larger rise than nurses and midwives. Speciality doctors, consultants, specialists, and dentists will receive a 4% pay rise. Junior doctors will receive a 4% salary rise with the addition consolidated payment of 750 Pound.
Teachers’ pay rise has been handed a 4% pay hike following the government’s acceptance of salary recommendations from reviewing bodies. The health unions reacted bitterly after the 3.6 % salary rise announced for other NHS staff, including nurses and midwives.
According to some reports, ministers had only budgeted for a 2.8% salary rise for the NHS and teachers. However, all the pay rises will come into effect backdated to 1 April 2026.
Announcing the planned pay rise, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that they were thoroughly deserved pay rises for all their hard-working nurses, midwives, doctors, and other NHS staff.
He added that they inherited a broken health service with extremely low morale after years of pay erosion and poor industrial relations. Because of this, despite a difficult financial situation, they are backing their health workers with above-inflation pay rises for the second year in a row.
NHS chief executive, Sir Jim Mackey, said that today’s pay rise announcement expresses the government’s support for the NHS staff. Sir Mackey added that the pay rise is a recognition of the government’s huge efforts and their hard work over the past years.
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According to the Education Secretary, the teachers’ pay rise will also be awarded to school leaders. The government will provide 515 million pounds to the school this year in addition to the pay rise. This fund will help the school authorities with the costs of paying awards to staff.
Most members of the armed forces will receive a 4.5% pay rise, according to John Healey, the Defence Secretary. The senior members of the military will get a 3.75% pay rise. According to the Cabinet Office, the senior civil servants will receive a 3.25% pay rise. However, ministers are planning to defer rolling out new pay bands for salaries in the upper echelons of the Civil Service.