What’s happened 

Fourteen NHS unions, including the Royal College of Podiatry, have called for talks with the government over the Agenda for Change pay structure to resume urgently. 

The 14 unions issued the call following Health Secretary Yvette Cooper’s speech to the Labour Party Conference on Wednesday 30 September.  

They say negotiations intended to address longstanding problems with the pay structure stalled following changes at the Department of Health and Social Care.  

Helga Pile, Chair of the NHS unions and UNISON Head of Health, said the Health Secretary needed to secure agreement on the investment required and called for an urgent meeting with unions after the conference.  

Jim Fahie, Secretary of the NHS unions and Assistant Director at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: “That makes it essential to fix the longstanding issues in the NHS pay structure that are causing some staff to be stuck on low pay and others to face unacceptable barriers to making progress.” 

Why this matters to members 

In April 2026, the government announced a 3.3% pay increase for staff on Agenda for Change contracts following a recommendation from the NHS Pay Review Body.  

Alongside the award, the government committed to negotiations on the pay structure, with any resulting improvements backdated to April. 

The unions say progress stalled following successive changes at the Department of Health and Social Care. 

Podiatrists working in the NHS on Agenda for Change contracts could be directly affected by changes to the pay structure, including changes affecting pay and career progression. 

What happens next 

The NHS unions are seeking an urgent meeting with the Health Secretary following Labour Party Conference and want negotiations on the Agenda for Change pay structure to resume.