NHS Pay Rise and Training Cuts

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What It Means for Specialist Nurses

The NHS is undergoing a pivotal transformation, one that presents both opportunities and challenges for nurses looking to advance their careers. While the 2025/26 pay award offers long-awaited recognition, recent funding cuts to advanced training pathways risk slowing the momentum for those aiming to transition from registered nurse to specialist nurse.

At Mayfair Specialist Nurses, we believe that understanding this evolving landscape is essential, not just for individual career growth, but for the sustainability of the healthcare workforce.

NHS Pay Award

The government’s 2025 pay award includes a 3.6% increase for all Agenda for Change staff, including nurses, midwives, and advanced practitioners. This is a welcome boost after years of advocacy and is designed to support recruitment and retention.

  • Band 5 nurses now start at £31,048, with experienced nurses earning up to £37,796.

  • Band 7 and 8a roles, where many advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) sit, have also seen meaningful increases.

  • The pay rise is fully funded and backdated to April 2025, with payments expected by August.

Training Cuts

Despite the positive pay news, the government has restricted funding for advanced nurse apprenticeships, which includes many Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) programmes. This decision could:

  • Limit access to specialist and advanced training.

  • Reduce the number of qualified advanced nurse practitioners entering the workforce.

  • Undermine efforts to modernise and expand the nursing profession.

Why Specialist and Advanced Nurses Matter

Specialist nurses provide expert care in areas like oncology, cardiology, mental health, and diabetes. Typically, at Band 6 or 7, they support patients with complex needs, reduce hospital admissions, and strengthen continuity of care.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs), often at Band 7 or 8a, work more autonomously, diagnosing, prescribing, and managing care. With Master’s-level training, they help bridge gaps in high-demand settings.

As the healthcare system faces rising demand and workforce shortages, these roles have never been more crucial. Though distinct, both roles complement each other, specialist nurses offer deep clinical expertise, while ANPs bring broad, high-level clinical decision-making. Together, they strengthen the NHS’s capacity and flexibility.

However, recent cuts to advanced and specialist training funding threaten access to these roles. This risks slowing workforce development, limiting career progression, and reducing the pipeline of skilled nurses. Sustained investment in both pathways is essential to building a strong, future-ready NHS.

Pay and Career Development

As the NHS continues to invest in improving pay for nurses, recent adjustments to funding for advanced training routes have raised concerns about potential impacts on career development. These changes may affect access to the qualifications needed for progression into higher-band roles, particularly for nurses who rely on funded pathways. Maintaining a balance between fair pay and accessible professional development will be important to supporting a strong and inclusive nursing workforce.

What This Means for Nurses and Employers

  • For nurses: career progression may become more difficult without funded training routes.

  • For employers: skills shortages in advanced roles could increase pressure on existing staff.

  • For agencies: there’s a growing need to support nurses not just in finding roles, but in building careers.

Our Commitment as a Nursing Agency

At Mayfair, we’re not just observing the changes in the healthcare landscape, we’re actively responding to support both nurses and healthcare providers. Here’s how:

  • We help hospitals manage costs without compromising care. By offering flexible staffing solutions that align with fluctuating patient acuity levels, we enable trusts to scale their workforce up or down as needed, avoiding the overheads of unnecessary permanent hires while maintaining high standards through rigorous compliance and vetting.

  • We stay in tune with the wider healthcare industry. We closely monitor developments across the healthcare sector, from policy shifts and funding changes to workforce trends, so we can anticipate challenges and adapt our services accordingly.

  • We listen to and respond to our clients’ needs. By staying connected with healthcare providers, professionals, and decision-makers, we ensure our solutions are aligned with real-time demands and operational pressures.

  • We support nurses with accessible training options. While we don’t directly fund advanced qualifications, we offer discounted access to annual mandatory and additional training and ensure our nurses stay compliant and up to date with essential skills.

  • We stay informed on workforce issues. We make it a priority to understand the pressures and priorities facing both nurses and healthcare providers, so we can respond with relevant, timely solutions.

  • We provide high-quality, adaptable staffing solutions. Whether for short-term cover or long-term support, we match the right professionals to the right roles ensuring continuity of care and operational efficiency.

The journey from registered nurse to specialist nurse is one of growth, learning, and leadership. But it requires more than ambition it requires access, opportunity, and support.

We call on healthcare leaders, educators, and policymakers to ensure that the progress made in pay is matched by progress in training and opportunity. At Mayfair Specialist Nurses, we’re here to help nurses navigate that transition every step of the way.