The Stethoscope Still Hangs, But the Weight Has Shifted 

[NHS Pay Rise 2025/26] 

Every morning, I pick up my old stethoscope and inhale, feeling the weight of each year. The NHS flows in my blood—but so does weariness. For years, I worked on autopilot swamped by endless shifts, lack of staff, and the growing backlog from Covid., this tiredness has sunk in deeper.  

I’ve lost focus during appointments. Overlooked key information. Gazed at records hoping for understanding to come back. The shame never stops. I swore to make people better, but the very system I work for pushes us to our limits—and our patients pay the price.  

After working as a consultant for so long, I never thought I’d feel this broken. Living costs went up while my pay stayed the same. This brought a quiet eating shame – that the years of hard work, nights without sleep, and choices about life and death seemed to mean so little to those in charge of money. I’ve sobbed in my car after work—worn out, discouraged, and just… beaten. 

This year, a change occurred. Talk of the NHS pay rise 2025 sparked a rare glimmer of hope. Not just for my paycheck—but to acknowledge the burden we bear every day.  

NHS Pay Rise 2025 – The Story That Ignited Hope

It started in the break room—hushed talks between shifts, a hint of guarded optimism on tired faces. “They’re paying attention,” someone said. I wanted to believe it. But after years of broken promises, trust was hard to come by.  

This time however, the rumours had some truth. The NHS Pay Review Body got its assignment in September 2024. The wait for the NHS pay rise 2025 was tough, but by spring, the verdict came – a 3.6% increase for Agenda for Change (AfC) workers in England backdated to April.

Money would arrive by fall—late sure, but certain. Not perfect, but real. And before we could take it in, plans for the 2026–27 review had already begun. Another task. Another fight. 

The announcement brought mixed feelings. We protested together in 2022 and 2023—marching, striking, begging for attention. The freezing picket lines and the tired looks of coworkers running extra hours on fast food coffee stick in my mind. Some visited food banks after long shifts. The government called our desperation greed back then.  

This new increase? It seemed like a grudging acknowledgment—admitting something had gone too far.  

But this meant more than a number. It showed appreciation. And things changed. Coworkers held their heads a bit higher. The usual negativity in the break room started to crack—and hope shone through those cracks. Maybe, for the first time in a long while, we weren’t just getting by. We started to think about a future worth sticking around for

NHS Pay Rise 2025 – The Figures That Made Me Tremble 

Then it happened—the ‘NHS Pay Rise 2025.’ The email. The news. A shared sigh of relief across hospitals. I shook as I read it. After years of stagnant wages and empty promises… was this happening? 

Understanding the Pay Raise  

The government accepted the recommendations of the Pay Review Body—but not everyone received the same pay increases: 

Other key points: 

The London Weighting Lifeline (And Its Limits) 

For those working in London, the High-Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) provided some relief—at least on paper: 

But let’s be real – a one-bedroom flat in Inner London could easily eat up half that nurse’s paycheck. The so-called “weighting” didn’t really hold up. 

The Quiet Relief – Incremental Increases 

Underneath the headlines, many discovered their real saving grace in those annual increments—the small, steady climb between pay points: 

Band 5 – Starts at £31,049, topping out at £37,796 

Band 6 – Goes from £38,682 to £46,580 

For some, this year brought a rare double boost – a 3.6% pay rise along with a step up the band ladder. Not exactly a fortune, but it does create a bit more breathing room. 

The Bitter Arithmetic 

A 3.6% increase barely outpaced inflation. After a decade of dwindling real pay, it felt like trying to fill a bathtub with just a teaspoon. Junior doctors, already pushed to their limits, saw their hard-earned gains diminished by a one-time £750 bonus—a token gesture that wouldn’t keep up over time. Sure, managers received the smallest percentage increase, but when Band 6 nurses were still skipping meals just to afford their petrol, did it really make a difference? 

A Flicker of Hope 

But still. something shifted. In the break room, no one cheered—but no one was angry either. For the first time in years, the government had listened. They had responded. 

That initial realisation—that our work matters—unleashed something small but genuine. One of my colleagues softly spoke up and said, “It’s not enough.” But she didn’t say, “It’s nothing.” Years of silence made even a whisper feel noteworthy. 

What This Really Means for My Life  

I won’t sugarcoat it—my hands were shaking as I opened the pay calculator. After years of feeling financially trapped, constantly counting every penny and making sacrifices, I needed to find out – would a 4% pay rise actually make a difference? 

I entered the numbers with the same intensity I use when figuring out drug dosages—because one misplaced decimal can turn stability into chaos. 

My Life as a Band 8c Consultant  

Before the rise: 

After the rise: 

But here’s what that £140 really gets me: 

This isn’t wealth. It isn’t even true peace of mind. But after years of trying to revive my finances with sheer determination, it’s a feeling I haven’t experienced in a long time—a breath of fresh air. 

The Painful Truth About Junior Colleagues  

I couldn’t help myself—I crunched the numbers for our Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors. The results hit harder than I anticipated. 

Let that sink in. 

Now subtract: 

That £110 raise? It disappears before it even lands in their account. The £750 lump sum? Gone in a single rent payment, swallowed by the cost of just doing the job. And all this while working 70-hour weeks for remuneration that is less than the London Living Wage. 

What about Band 5 nurses, you ask? 

Now, let’s put that into perspective: 

Now, let’s put that into perspective: 

That £65 doesn’t even come close to providing them with dignity. 

Here’s the harsh reality – I found myself with an extra £140 each month, and instead of feeling relieved, I felt a pain of guilt. Why should consultants feel “lucky” just to meet basic needs while junior staff are struggling to afford meals? This isn’t how a system should treat its future. 

A Fragile Victory  

This isn’t real reform. It’s just a temporary fix on a system that’s bleeding both staff and trust. Yet, when I saved my calculations, I felt something stirring within me—hope. Not the naive kind, but a fierce determination. 

For me, that extra £140 could mean not having to choose between my daughter’s school trip and paying the electricity bill. For an FY1, that £110 might finally cover the textbook they desperately need. 

These aren’t luxuries—they’re the bare minimum for professional survival. 

I took a screenshot of those numbers—not to celebrate, but to keep it in mind. To remind myself that while we’ve made some progress, we still have a long way to go. Because if this government can find money when pushed, just think about what’s possible when we demand what we’re truly worth. 

And we’re worth so much more than 4%. 

Behind the Numbers – What It Really Means for Us  

They’re calling it a ‘fair deal.’ But fair compared to what—soaring rents? Energy bills that seem to double overnight? Years of sacrifice from those on the front lines? 

The headlines celebrated it as a win. The government publicised it as sustainable. But for many of us living in the thick of it, those words felt empty.

When UNISON’s Helga Pile reacted to the announcement, her comments cut through the spin—reminding everyone that a small increase doesn’t erase years of neglect. 

Social Media Didn’t Hold Back 

Across Meta, the backlash was swift and unfiltered. Posts poured in from all directions: 

The Fight Isn’t Over  

Sure, the 3.6% pay rise is better than the government’s initial 2.8% budget—but let’s not confuse that with generosity. For many of us on the ground, it’s still not enough. 

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) General Secretary and CEO, Professor Nicola Ranger, put it bluntly—the increase will be “entirely swallowed up by inflation.” It sends a clear message—nursing staff continue to be underappreciated, underpaid, and undervalued. 

Ranger didn’t hold back. She criticised the government for offering doctors a better deal while leaving nurses with scraps, shining a light on the glaring issue of low starting salaries. Fifteen years of stagnant pay can’t be fixed with a single increase, no matter how much it makes headlines. 

The RCN will let members vote on the deal—but the outcome won’t halt its implementation. It may be symbolic, but it’s still an important moment for reflection. 

At the RCN Congress in Liverpool, Ranger made one thing clear—the fight isn’t over. If the government won’t sweeten the offer, industrial action is definitely on the table. Nurses are ready to stand their ground. 

The delay was another slap in the face. Typically, AfC pay settlements are wrapped up by April. This year, the government dragged its feet, leaving staff in limbo and morale at an all-time low. 

Helen Whyley, the Executive Director for Wales at RCN, didn’t hold back—she called it what it truly was – a letdown. The late announcement and the lack of a meaningful uplift only added to the growing sense of disappointment among the workforces. This issue goes beyond just numbers, it’s about respect, keeping staff, and mending what’s been broken. While this may be a step in the right direction, it’s still a long way from the finish line. 

Five Critical Challenges that the NHS is Facing Today  

Final Thoughts  

Every morning, I still reach for my stethoscope. While the weight remains the same, today, it feels just a bit lighter. The NHS pay rise 2025 isn’t a miracle, it’s a long-overdue adjustment. It’s a clear message that when we come together and raise our voices, those in power have to pay attention. 

Conclusion  

This isn’t merely a salary increase—it’s a recognition of our value. After years of being called ‘heroes’ while struggling to make ends meet, this raise restores something many of us had lost—our dignity. 

And maybe, it’s the beginning of something greater—a future where healthcare workers are not just celebrated but also fairly supported. 

If you’ve ever thought about a career in care, now could be the ideal time. Our Health & Social Care courses open the door to meaningful, life-changing roles, including pathways to becoming a registered NHS nurse. Click here to discover what’s possible. 

Now, I’d love to hear from you—what does this pay rise mean for you? Join the conversation below. Let’s keep this dialogue alive.