However, in an unexpected move, the Prime Minister wrote a joint letter to the Health Secretary, making it clear that no more money would be available to fund the pay rise because of pressure on public finances. The only extra funding expected in the budget is a one-off temporary payment to help with winter pressures.A government spokesman said: “This government is backing the NHS with record investment to get it back on its feet, cut waiting lists and ensure hardworking NHS staff are fairly rewarded. “Since July 2024, waiting lists are down by over 251,000, and behind those numbers are hundreds of thousands of patients getting treated faster and no longer waiting in pain or uncertainty.”This year we accepted the independent NHS Pay Review Body’s recommendation, delivering a 3.3 per cent pay rise for Agenda for Change staff from April, and we continue to work constructively with unions on improvements to the pay structure in addition to the pay award.”