The UK government has announced a 3.3% pay rise for over 1.4 million NHS workers, effective from April. Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized that this increase surpasses the Office for Budget Responsibility’s projected 2.2% inflation rate for 2026-27, asserting it constitutes a "real-terms pay rise" for NHS employees. This marks the first pay assessment in six years to take effect in April, which is seen as a response to the frustrations expressed by health workers regarding delayed pay reviews over the years.

However, the announcement has drawn criticism from health unions, particularly Unison, which argues that the increase is insufficient to match the current inflation rate, which hit 3.4% in December. Helga Pile, Unison’s head of health, stated that many NHS staff are likely to be frustrated by another pay award that does not keep pace with inflation, highlighting ongoing concerns about the financial pressures facing healthcare workers. The pay increase is part of the government’s strategy to address workforce challenges within the NHS by improving how swiftly pay awards can be implemented.

The decision to expedite the pay review process, with submissions made earlier than in previous years, represents an attempt by the government to show that they are taking the needs of NHS staff seriously. While the government celebrates this pay rise as a step in the right direction, the response from unions underscores a larger issue of dissatisfaction amongst healthcare workers, who may see this increase as inadequate given their ongoing financial struggles and the increasing cost of living.