Separate pay spine for nursing
- From:
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Published
- 11 January 2024
- Last updated
- 15 April 2025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government has responded to the evidence received in relation to the commitment to consider a separate pay spine for nursing staff.
Original call for evidence
Summary
The government is seeking views on the benefits and challenges of a separate pay spine for nursing staff.
This call for evidence closesran atfrom
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Call for evidence description
Nursing staff have a key role across the NHS workforce and nurses make up a significant proportion of NHS staff.
In May 2023, the government agreed a deal for the Agenda for Change (AfC) workforce through the NHS Staff Council. During negotiations, concerns were raised about how the AfC pay structure is affecting the career progression and professional development of nurses, and the direct impact that this is having on recruitment and retention. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) suggested that a separate pay spine for nursing staff could address these concerns.
This call for evidence is being published to explore these specific concerns, to understand the benefits and challenges of a separate nursing pay spine, and to explore other potential approaches to addressing any issues identified. This exploration does not form part of the AfC deal that was agreed with the NHS Staff Council.
This call for evidence is open to everyone. You can respond:
- on behalf of an organisation
- as an individual member of the health and care workforce
- as an individual that is not a member of the health and care workforce
Each category of respondents will be asked a different set of questions.
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Updates to this page
Published 11 January 2024
Last updated 15 April 2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Added the government response to the call for evidence. The response was previously published on a separate GOV.UK page on 9 April 2025, in error.
-
First published.
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Call for evidence description
Nursing staff have a key role across the NHS workforce and nurses make up a significant proportion of NHS staff.
In May 2023, the government agreed a deal for the Agenda for Change (AfC) workforce through the NHS Staff Council. During negotiations, concerns were raised about how the AfC pay structure is affecting the career progression and professional development of nurses, and the direct impact that this is having on recruitment and retention. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) suggested that a separate pay spine for nursing staff could address these concerns.
This call for evidence is being published to explore these specific concerns, to understand the benefits and challenges of a separate nursing pay spine, and to explore other potential approaches to addressing any issues identified. This exploration does not form part of the AfC deal that was agreed with the NHS Staff Council.
This call for evidence is open to everyone. You can respond:
- on behalf of an organisation
- as an individual member of the health and care workforce
- as an individual that is not a member of the health and care workforce
Each category of respondents will be asked a different set of questions.
Documents
Share this page
SharingThe willfollowing links open the page in a new tab
Updates to this page
-
Added the government response to the call for evidence. The response was previously published on a separate GOV.UK page on 9 April 2025, in error.
-
First published.