Up to 280,000 Royal College of Nursing members in England will vote on whether to accept the Government’s NHS pay offer.

The vote comes after six days of strikes since December in the long-running dispute over pay.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said whatever is decided, “we will build on the last few months of campaigning for fair pay and recognition” as she urged members to look at the offer in full.

Members will have until 9am on April 14 to cast their vote on the offer which the RCN Council has recommended should be accepted.

The proposed deal – which involves two one-off payments for the current financial year – affects each worker differently, depending on what pay band and pay point they are on.

The combined payments are worth between £1,655 and £3,789 dependent on salary band and are additional to increases already made this financial year.

These are referred to as non-consolidated amounts as they do not count towards members’ pensions and are not added to their future pay packet.

There will be a permanent 5% pay rise on all pay points for 2023-24.

The union also said that a series of commitments and plans to improve pay, terms and conditions over time are part of the offer.

These are aimed at trying to help tackle challenges with career and pay progression within the 2024/25 pay year and to improve safe staffing.

Industrial strike
Pat Cullen (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

Ms Cullen said: “Ministers spent many months ignoring the voice of nursing and they forced us to take extremely difficult strike action before recognising the need to look again at pay in the NHS.

“Weeks of negotiation resulted in a new offer and it’s only right that we ask our members to vote again and to give their view on the Government’s proposal.”

On the proposed deal made on March 16, she said:  “We are urging our members to look at the offer in full. There are several elements, including a commitment to a policy framework for safe staffing and looking at a new pay spine for nursing.

“Nursing staff have fought proudly for their profession and patients alike in recent months. Our membership has never been stronger and their determination has led to this new offer.”