NHS Hospital workers across the North East of England are preparing to receive long-awaited back payments of up to £5,500 in early 2026, following confirmation that outstanding approvals linked to a pay grade dispute have now been completed. The development will directly benefit healthcare assistants who have, for a prolonged period, undertaken duties beyond their formal pay band.
Staff employed by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust are expected to receive payments as early as next month, bringing closure to a process that has tested patience and financial resilience among some of the lowest-paid workers in the healthcare system.
At the centre of the issue are healthcare assistants who had been routinely carrying out additional clinical tasks, including blood collection and diagnostic testing, without corresponding pay recognition. These responsibilities, while essential to patient care and hospital efficiency, were deemed to fall outside their original role definitions.
An agreement acknowledging this mismatch was reached last year, with payments initially expected before the end of 2024. However, implementation was paused while national approvals were sought, delaying the financial relief many workers had been counting on during the cost-of-living pressures of the winter period.
The settlement applies to staff across nine sites, including Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham, Bishop Auckland Hospital and Chester-le-Street Community Hospital. The exact amount each individual receives will depend on length of service and the period during which higher-level duties were performed.
For many affected workers, the delay created uncertainty. Healthcare assistants are widely recognised as the backbone of hospital operations, providing hands-on care under sustained pressure. The majority of those impacted are women, often balancing demanding shift patterns with family responsibilities, making the timing of payments particularly significant.
In 2024, the trust moved healthcare assistants onto a higher wage band, backdating the change to July 2023. While this step addressed future earnings, it did not fully resolve concerns about historic underpayment. Discussions continued until a further agreement was reached in September, averting potential disruption to hospital services.
Senior leadership at the trust has now confirmed that all required national approvals are in place. Andrew Thacker, director of workforce, said the organisation recognised the process had been “frustrating and, at times, upsetting” for those affected. He added that work is underway to finalise arrangements, with payments expected to be issued in February once all parties complete the necessary sign-offs.
From the perspective of UK workers, the resolution highlights the importance of fair pay structures that accurately reflect the work being done on hospital wards every day. It also underlines the human impact of administrative delays, particularly for staff already facing financial strain.
The Workers Union notes that cases such as this resonate far beyond one trust or region. Across the NHS, workers frequently step up to meet service demands, often without immediate recognition. Ensuring that additional responsibilities are matched with appropriate pay is not only a matter of fairness, but also of workforce sustainability and morale.
As payments are processed, affected staff can now look ahead with greater certainty, knowing their contribution has been formally acknowledged. For patients, continuity of care remains paramount, delivered by a workforce that continues to prioritise service even amid prolonged negotiations.
This outcome serves as a reminder that when issues are addressed thoroughly and transparently, progress—though sometimes slow—can be achieved. For NHS workers involved, February cannot come soon enough.
