Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to allow NHS staff (a) who were employed after 31 March 2023 and (b) who returned to work after 31 March 2023 following sabbatical or illness to be eligible for the pay rise included in the NHS Pay Deal.

The non-consolidated payments cover staff directly employed by National Health Service organisations, for example, staff on permanent and fixed term contracts, as set out in Annex 1 of the handbook on Agenda for Change terms as of 31 March 2023. Staff employed after 31 March 2023 will not be eligible for the 2022/23 non-consolidated award. All eligible staff should receive the 5% consolidated increase for 2023/24, regardless of their joining date.

Employers should ensure that staff on long-term sick leave, where appropriate, receive the non-consolidated payments. For those on career breaks, local employers should determine this on a case-by-case basis.