The body responsible for advising on NHS pay awards has handed its recommendations for 2025-26 to ministers, but the details are yet to be made public.
The NHS Pay Review Body sent its report to governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Friday last week, confirmed the Office for the Pay Review Bodies.
Unions are now urging ministers to put forward a pay deal quickly, given that it is already two weeks late.
It comes as the Scottish Government, which has opted out of the pay review body process, announced a pay offer for NHS staff in that country last week.
Unison, which represents many nurses and midwives, has warned that it is planning to ballot its members in England and Wales about whether they would be prepared to strike if the pay settlement fails to reflect rising living costs.
It is not yet known how much the NHS Pay Review Body has recommended Agenda for Change staff should get for 2025-26, as the report has just been sent privately to ministers.
A spokesperson for the Office for the Pay Review Bodies said: “Response to the recommendations and publication of the report is now a matter for governments.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it would now be considering the recommendations “carefully”.
They said: “The department has now received the NHS Pay Review Body recommendations for 2025-26 – regarding pay for Agenda for Change staff like nurses, paramedics and healthcare support workers.
“We will carefully consider the recommendations before responding.”
The devolved governments in Wales and Northern Ireland have been approached for comment.
More to follow.
