Unions are calling on the government to hold pay talks.

The 14 unions who represent staff on Agenda for Change contracts have written to the health secretary asking him to to honour a commitment made last year to tackle problems in the pay system.

Chair of the NHS unions and UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “The government promised talks over a year ago and they still haven’t got round the table with unions with any proper plan to sort things out.

“The only way to get a system that’s fit for purpose and meets the needs of staff in a modern health service is to fix the structure at the same time as making sure staff can cope with the cost of living.

“Some things need sorting urgently while others will take longer to work through. But the important thing is that we agree a plan and get the funding needed to reach a deal.

“The health secretary wants a more efficient system and that begins with getting pay right. Tackling this now will help to deliver the pay rise when it’s due in April rather than kicking the can down the road leaving staff with months of delays.”

Secretary to the NHS unions and assistant director for employment relations at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Jim Fahie said: “The government’s failure to honour the structural reform commitment for the 2025/26 pay year, alongside a lower pay award than other PRB groups, has led to high levels of dissatisfaction among our members.

“Our collective efforts are focused on securing a fair annual uplift in pay for our members and for separate funding to be provided for Agenda for Change (AfC) structural reform."