The Westminster government’s recent commitments to nursing - including a review of band 5 nursing roles in the NHS in England - amount to one of the most significant investments in nursing any of us have seen in our careers.
As anyone who has held a position on one of our national committees knows only too well, creating long lasting and systemic change for our members in the NHS is far from easy.
But that’s exactly what we work every single day to do. Everything we do is to push, advocate, and influence for our profession. Our aim is clear: nursing needs to be respected as a safety critical profession, safely staffed in law and valued through fair pay.
As well as commitments to graduate pay and a national preceptorship, the headline from the government’s announcement is to undertake a review of every single band 5 nursing role in the NHS in England using the new national nursing profiles. Crucially, the government said: “Additional national funding will be made available to support the band 5 review process and any resulting salary uplifts.”
The commitments to nursing are a big step for our value and our respect.
Is it everything we need? No. Is it enough? No, of course it isn’t. What our profession, and members of our Royal College, contribute to the health and economies in each of our respective countries deserve more – far more – than what was committed to on 11 February.
But does it mark an important milestone in nursing finally emerging from the shadows of the pioneering women who forged this profession and finally establishing ourselves as the essential, safety-critical, expert professionals we are? Yes. I believe it does.
And we will hold the government and NHS England to account every step of the way whilst the reviews are ongoing. We will be part of the oversight group ensuring that this process is undertaken properly and fairly.
We can already see change coming
We have been doing this work intensively in Scotland for 18 months. And it is working. 85% of job evaluations carried out for nurses currently paid at band 5 have resulted in re-banding.
If we see the same results in England as we have in Scotland, we hope thousands of nurses currently paid at band 5 should – finally – see the work they carry out reflected in their pay packets.
If a member is uplifted to band 6 through this review, and once they have reached the top pay point of band 6, in today’s money they will be over £9,000 a year better off.
Successful change takes all of us
Creating change at a national level, takes work and effort at every point.
Take part in this work, in the job evaluation process. Because if you do, your colleagues will too.
When our nursing teams are stronger, so is the nursing voice in your workplace.
When the nursing voice is strong in your workplace, your employer must listen.
And on, and on. All the way up to the desks of health leaders in Westminster, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.
No matter your band, find your job description and make sure it is up to date. These commitments might be specific, but it’s time for each one of us to step up. Look closely at the value you bring to your patients and the role you’re required to do. We will support you every step of the way.
It’s time for us all to know our worth.
