Health secretary pushes through NHS pay rise with ministerial direction

UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay has approved a 5% pay raise for NHS staff for 2023-2024. The raise, which surpasses the department’s previous spending budgets, includes additional one-time payments for 2022-2023. Critics have claimed that the government is treating civil servants unfairly compared to other public sector workers. Doctors, dentists, and senior NHS managers are excluded as their pay is separately negotiated.