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The announced by the Welsh Government today (22 May) comes almost two months after the Pay Review Body (PRB)’s report was delivered to the UK government. The PRB’s recommendations were accepted and nursing staff employed on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts in Wales have been awarded a 3.6% pay increase across all bands, backdated to 1 April 2025.

“This announcement has come far too late, leaving nursing staff waiting once again for recognition they urgently deserve,” said RCN Wales Executive Director Helen Whyley. “At a time when morale is already low and the pressures on the health service are immense, this delay only deepens the sense of disillusionment among our members.”

With more than 2,000 nursing vacancies across Wales, this announcement does little to improve recruitment or retention. The NHS is being held together by the goodwill of overstretched and undervalued nurses and health care support workers.

“This uplift does not begin to address the years of real-terms pay cuts our members have endured,” Helen said. “The Welsh Government has committed to pay restoration, but with an award only just in line with inflation, it fails to deliver on that promise. Nursing staff need more than a gesture to bring their pay back in line with what they have lost over the last decade.”

RCN Wales welcomes the agreement to begin negotiations on reforming AfC via the NHS Staff Council UK.

“Nursing staff are crying out for reform,” said Helen. “We expect this reform to address valuing nursing for the safety critical profession that it is. The Welsh Government would be wise to consider if this PRB process works to resolve their workforce crisis or whether direct negotiations, like those in Scotland, would be more beneficial.”

Helen added: “Our members will now consider whether this award goes far enough to make nursing the attractive, respected profession it needs to be.”

Is 3.6% enough?

The Welsh Government says it's working to ensure you receive your backdated pay uplift from August. But looking at the economic news this week, it will be entirely swallowed up by inflation, as your bills and services cost more.

Members working in the NHS in Wales on an AfC contract will be able to take part in a consultation on the award. Check your details are up to date to make sure you can vote and we’ll be in touch soon about the consultation opening.