NHS Pharmacists to receive 5.5% pay increase; PDA welcomes the decision

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces pay increase for NHS pharmacists alongside other NHS staff, fully accepting the Pay Review Bodies' recommendations

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of a 5.5 percent pay increase for NHS pharmacists.

Following the acceptance of the NHS Pay Review Body's (PRB) recommendations, Chancellor Rachel Reeves shared the announcement in a speech to Parliament on 29 July.

She confirmed that the pay review bodies' recommendations for health and education for 2024-25 would be fully implemented.

Reeves' speech came alongside the release of her audit into public finances, a commitment she made shortly after the recent election.

The audit confirms that the recommendations from various PRBs, including those for NHS staff, doctors, dentists, teachers, and other public servants, have been approved and will be acted upon.

"That is the right decision for the people who work in and most importantly the people who use our public services...giving hardworking staff the pay rise they deserve while ensuring we can recruit and retain the people we need," Reeves announced.

"It should not have taken this long to come to these decisions."

In February, the PDA submitted detailed evidence to the PRB, calling for targeted pay increases for NHS pharmacists, especially those at the top of the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands.

The PDA's submission highlighted the significant erosion of purchasing power for these pharmacists and stressed the need for specific attention to the top AfC bands.

Some of the key points that PDA had submitted as written evidence included  the PRB to prioritise pay rates at the top of AfC bands 5-8, where purchasing power has significantly diminished.

• Uniform Pay Increase: While the PDA supports a general pay increase for all NHS workers, it emphasizes the need for specific focus on the top AfC bands.
• Avoiding Lower Pay Points: This year’s recommendations should not focus on lower pay points, which have already been addressed in previous awards and restructuring.
• Above-Inflation Pay Rise: The PDA believes that an above-inflation increase is fair and necessary for pharmacists.

Commenting on the new development, Paul Day, PDA Union Director, said: "The increase announced by the Chancellor meets the PDA’s call and is significantly above inflation.

"This increase is for all NHS workers and is therefore a real terms increase for all pharmacists employed on AfC terms and conditions.

"It is an encouraging sign in the first few months of the new administration that, considering the economic circumstances they have inherited, this announcement suggests that they have listened to the evidence presented by the PDA and others and value public sector workers.

"Nevertheless, the PDA recognises this is only a small step towards redressing previous years of low increases, particularly for experienced and long serving pharmacists."