NHS pay rises

Most nurses, midwives and professions allied to medicine are to receive pay rises of 3.7% as recommended by their pay review body just before Christmas. Details of the rise were released earlier than usual, several weeks before other review body recommendations (for teachers, armed forces, and senior salary groups).

Public services union UNISON, which represents 350,000 nurses, reacted coolly, branding it an "Oliver Twist" settlement and a missed opportunity to solve long-term problems. Karen Jennings, the union's head of nursing, said: "History shows that a boom and bust approach to health pay doesn't solve the recruitment and retention crisis".

Junior doctors, consultants, dentists and GPs who have a separate pay review body will receive a 3.9% rise. The increases are due to be implemented in April.