As the chanceller Rachel Reeves revealed her first budget for the Labour government with pledges of £22.6 billion over two years for the NHS, nursing staff said they want to see investment in salaries to improve retention rates and workforce numbers. A Nursing Standard poll shows that over half of respondents support demands for a 22% pay rise similar to that granted to junior doctors, which would boost band 5 nurse salaries by up to £7,000 over two years, with only 2% of respondents viewing the current 5.5% award for 2024-25 as acceptable.