Across the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside health and care system, it has been agreed to standardise bank rates of pay (substantive and pure bank shifts) across all Trusts.
With cost pressures rising faster than budgets, the Cheshire and Merseyside health and care system faces a significant challenge to live within the resources available in 2025 to 2026.
From 4 August 2025, this means that payments for all posts on the bank at Band 5 and above will be paid at the either bottom of the scale (if currently on this point) or the mid point of the pay band for all others.
At this current time, the pay for Bands 2 to 4 will remain unchanged.
There will be no further incentive schemes offered in addition to the standardised rate. We understand this change will have considerable impact for our bank staff and we will be working with our trade union colleagues to look at the support we can offer.
If you have any questions, please contact: bankstandardisation
Some frequently asked questions:
National planning guidance for NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards was released by NHS England on 30 January and has set out challenging efficiency targets that must be responded to at pace.
In response to these significant challenges, it has been agreed to standardise bank rates of pay (substantive with a bank assignment and pure bank shifts) across all Trusts within the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside health and care system.
Switching to standardised rates will help to make sure that NHS resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Some local NHS Trusts already offer the standardised bank rate, but there has now been a commitment from all Cheshire and Merseyside Trusts to also move to this rate.
Standardised rates mean that bank staff pay will be the same across Cheshire and Merseyside.
From 4 August 2025, payments for all posts on the bank at Band 5 and above will be paid at the either bottom of the scale (if currently on this point) or the mid point of the pay band for all others.
E.g. if you are Band 6, you will be paid at either the bottom of the Band 6 pay scale (if currently at the bottom) or mid point of the pay band if higher.
If you are Band 5, you will be paid at either the bottom of the Band 5 pay scale (if currently at the bottom) or mid point of the pay band if higher.
At this current time, the pay for Bands 2 to 4 will remain unchanged.
We understand this change will have considerable impact for our bank and we are working with our trade union colleagues to look at the support we can offer.
If you have any questions, please contact: bankstandardisation@merseycare.nhs.uk
The enhanced pay for weekends, nights and bank holidays will still be paid at the current percentage rate, but this will be against the new hourly rate if you move to midpoint from the top of band.
If anyone is interested in a permanent role, they should speak to the managers in the area they have been working.
See also our current vacancies.