NHS Pay Rise 2024/25: When Will It Be Paid in England?
In 2024/25, the NHS pay increase in England provided substantial rises for all those working across all staff bands, setting out the implementation timeline, new pay scales, salary calculator, and its impact on staff morale and retention.
NHS Pay Increase 2024/25 in England
NHS staff in England receive a 5.5% pay increase for 2024/25, running from April, raising Agenda for Change pay and adding extra senior pay points.
The increase benefits thousands of NHS workers, such as nurses and healthcare assistants, therapists and managers, providing a genuine boost to pay-potential take-home earnings.
Along with the increase, new higher points on the pay spine have been added to reward experience and leadership on the health service.
The NHS pay increase also aims to assist in retaining and recruiting staff so that the NHS can be competitive in recruiting skilled professionals.
Backdated pay will result in workers receiving the extra pay in future payrolls, providing both financial help and acknowledgment of hard work over a difficult year.
When Will It Be Paid in England?
England’s NHS workers got their 2024/25 pay increase in August 2024, backdated to April 1, 2024. The increase was introduced two months ahead of the previous year.
The 2024 NHS england pay rise came into effect from April 1st, 2024, with salary commencing from October 2024. This approach offered staff members secure, safe settlements and also provided for back pay in April.
The rise aimed to support recruitment and retention, as well as the provision of fair and competitive compensation for England NHS staff.
How Much Did the Staff Members Theoretically Receive?
- 5.5% Across the Board: A 5.5% pay rise was awarded to all Agenda for Change staff in NHS Scotland for 2024–25.
- Additional Support for Key Roles: Further alterations were applied to high-demand or hard-to-recruit roles to enhance recruitment and retention.
When Did the Payments Occur?
- April 1, 2024: Pay increase came into effect.
- August 2024: Initial payments with new rates were issued, including backdated pay in April.
This rolling out in stages ensured staff were paid promptly and fairly, showing the government’s appreciation for paying healthcare staff and having an incentivized team.
Detailed Pay Breakdown
The England NHS 2024/25 Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rise was 5.5% from April 1, 2024. This was in all pay bands with the inclusion of middle pay points for Bands 8a–d and 9
Staff Pay Bands 2024/25
Band Old Pay (2023/24) New Pay (2024/25) Notes
Band 1 £20,000 £20,720 Entry-level support roles
Band 2 £22,000 £22,792 Junior admin and healthcare assistants
Band 3 £24,000 £24,864 Admin and support staff
Band 4 £27,000 £27,972 Senior support roles
Band 5 £31,000 £32,116 Junior therapists, staff nurses
Band 6 £38,000 £39,368 Specialist therapists, senior nurses
Band 7 £45,000 £46,620 Senior clinical roles
Band 8a £50,000 £51,800 Advanced clinical/managerial roles
Band 8b £55,000 £56,980 Specialist senior roles
Band 8c £60,000 £61,680 Highly specialist posts
Band 8d £65,000 £66,840 Senior leadership/management
Band 9 £70,000 £71,520 Executive/top management jobs
Resident Doctors Salary 2024/25
- 6% pay rise with £1,000 lump sum payment.
- To all grades, with incremental rises for senior doctors slightly more.
Estimate Your New Salary
Online calculators helped NHS employees calculate their new salary immediately, taking into account the 2024/25 pay rise, including back pay and role-specific increases.
Working it out manually:
- Current salary multiplied by 0.055 (AfC staff) or multiplied by 0.06 (resident doctors).
- Add that figure to your current salary.
- Add back pay if taken after April 2024.
This calculator helped staff understand the cash impact and plan accordingly.
Impact of the 2024/25 Pay Rise on NHS Staff
The 2024/25 NHS pay rise enhanced take-home pay, morale and retention, eased inflation pressures, bettered recruitment, and supported nurses, doctors, allied health, and support staff.
- Morale Boost: Employees were valued and appreciated for their work.
- Retention: Competitive wages encouraged experienced professionals to remain within the NHS.
- Recruitment: Higher wages lured new physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.
- Financial Relief: Employees could manage rising living costs and concentrate on patient care.
The rise had a beneficial impact on a wide range of personnel, such as nurses, doctors, support staff, and allied health professionals, promoting workforce stability within the health service.
Recent Trends and Trade Union Reactions
NHS workers in England were given a 5.5% pay rise in 2024/25 to combat inflation and retain workers. This increase was on all pay brackets, bringing economic relief as well as rewarding employees’ hard work.
But the rise was criticized as inadequate by unions such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the British Medical Association (BMA). Over 90% of RCN members opposed it in a consultative ballot, putting the possibility of strike action at risk.
The government said that there would be no additional money, citing residual disagreements about fair pay and conditions.
FAQs
Who is covered by the NHS England pay increase 2024/25?
All Agenda for Change staff and resident doctors appointed before April 1, 2024.
When will the pay increase be reflected in salary payments?
From April 2024, with the majority of staff having backdated payments in August 2024.
Does the increase in pay aid staff retention?
Yes, it helps staff retention, retains experienced staff, and recruits new healthcare staff.
Are all bands affected equally?
Each AfC band experienced a 3.6% increment; resident doctors experienced an independent increased increment.
