The recent announcement for NHS nursing staff in England shows that the Westminster government has acknowledged longstanding RCN concerns about stalled career progression and has committed to meaningful action. Ministers have committed to invest in the workforce by reviewing every Band 5 nurse's role to ensure their banding and salary accurately reflect the work they perform, with funding in place for any resulting pay uplifts.

In Scotland, this work started a few years ago, meaning that the Scottish and UK governments have both now signalled their intent to address these issues.

Commitments made to nurses in Wales as part of the 2023/24 pay deal have not resulted in any tangible change to career progression for nurses, says the RCN.

There is also a commitment in England to prioritise graduate pay and to introduce a single preceptorship framework led by the chief nursing officer. Graduate pay will be considered as part of pay structural reform talks of which Wales will be a participate. Wales already has a preceptorship framework, but it has not been funded. The RCN Wales Board is clear that the Welsh government must now fully fund this programme so that new registrants have a properly supported in the same way as their English counter parts.

Jackie Davies, chair of the RCN Wales Board, said: ‘Governments elsewhere in the UK have recognised what nurses have been saying for years - progression from Band 5 to Band 6 is broken. The current system is failing nursing professionals. It has eroded trust, damaged morale, and left skilled staff stuck in roles that do not reflect their expertise, responsibility or experience.'

Helen Whyley, executive director of RCN Wales, added: ‘Previous commitments from the Welsh Government during pay negotiations have not delivered the change nursing staff were promised. While these developments elsewhere are not the full solution nurses need or deserve, they set a clear direction of travel. The Welsh government must now match that ambition and act decisively to ensure nurses in Wales are not left behind their colleagues across the border. This must be the starting point for reform, not the finish line.'

The RCN is urging the Welsh government and the political parties seeking to form a government in the forthcoming elections to make a firm, time-bound commitment that delivers real, measurable improvements for nursing staff.