Today I am announcing a comprehensive package to recognise the value of the nursing profession. Nurses are essential to leading and delivering the government's 10 Year Health Plan, and critical for patient safety and outcomes, but the profession has been undervalued in the NHS for far too long.

Too many nurses are not being compensated appropriately for the work they do, and there is currently no universal preceptorship programme in place for new graduate nurses.

This government is clear that a constructive relationship with unions is in everyone’s interests. Following engagement with all nursing unions including UNISON, Unite, and GMB, and a dedicated period of intensive engagement with the RCN, it has agreed a series of measures which will transform the nursing profession and make sure that nurses get the pay and support they deserve.

Today I am committing to invest in the NHS nursing workforce in four ways:

Prioritising increasing graduate pay. It is important that graduate salaries are competitive within the wider labour market to attract graduates into the NHS. I am therefore asking the NHS Staff Council to prioritise graduate pay in the upcoming discussions on pay structure reform. This will impact all graduates under the Agenda for Change contract, including nurses.

Reviewing the work of every band 5 nurse. Every band 5 nursing role will be reviewed by employers over a set timeframe to ensure that job descriptions and pay bands reflect the work that nurses are being asked to do. Additional national funding will be made available to support the band 5 review process and any resulting salary uplifts. This will be separate and additional to the funding that will be made available for annual headline pay rises and for pay structure reform.

Establish a single national nursing preceptorship standard. I have asked the CNO for England to lead work as part of the upcoming professional strategy for nursing to improve the quality and consistency of preceptorships for all newly qualified nurses. This work will be delivered in partnership with trade unions, employers and other key stakeholders.

A review of the evidence. We will review the evidence that is gathered as part of the review of band 5 nursing roles to determine whether any further action is required.

We will continue to work together with unions to ensure this work is delivered at pace and that nurses get consistent support in their early careers and are paid for the work they are asked to do.

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