The annual pay rise for NHS nurses and other healthcare staff in England will be delayed again in 2025-26, having not been delivered on time for many years. Despite the NHS Pay Review Body (RB) process being started earlier this year under the new Labour government, an offer has yet to be announced. Unions and nursing staff have criticised the government for proceeding with the ‘painfully slow’ RB process this year, saying it should be replaced with direct talks. Nurses have expressed frustration over the ongoing delays, and said heatlh and social care secretary Wes Streeting needs to ‘get a grip’.