A NURSING union leader has warned the government must not push the boundaries when it comes to announcing a pay deal.

In her keynote speech at the union’s annual congress in Liverpool today, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger will warn that the situation could escalate if the profession is left “ailing and underpaid.”

Ministers are yet to announce a pay rise after the NHS pay review body (PRB) recommended a pay rise of about 3 per cent for nurses for the year 2025-26 last month.

“Government should stop the dither and delay and make the announcements,” Prof Ranger is to say. “We need a significant pay rise for nursing and for every NHS employer to be given the full money to pay it: anything else is a cut to patient services.”

With a nod to nurses’ unprecedented industrial action over pay in 2022 and 2023, she will say: “I’m not here to tell you we’re going on strike. You will decide how you feel and we will plan together the best way to get what nursing needs.

“But I ask ministers not to sail close to the wind. If you continue to insult this profession, leave it ailing and underpaid this summer, then you know how this could escalate.”

The union has been surveying members on the government’s “deeply offensive” call for a 2.8 per cent rise to the pay board in December.

In her speech, Prof Ranger will issue warnings over “dreadfully unsafe” staffing levels and urge ministers to introduce stronger financial incentives to study nursing and better starting salaries for new recruits.

According to a YouGov survey, more than nine in 10 young people aged 16 to 18 consider nursing, alongside doctors, the profession with the highest value to society. But 88 per cent said they would not consider it as a career, with more than half citing low wages as a reason.

Prof Ranger will warn: “Gen Z are the future of our profession and key to transforming health and care for decades to come. Unlocking their talent and potential must become an urgent priority for every government.

“Without enough young people, the ‘ticking time bomb’ of large-scale retirement will remain.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are carefully considering the recommendations from the NHS pay review body and will update as soon as possible.”