NHS Pay Rates: What to Expect for Bank and Locum Staff

NHS Pay Rates: What to Expect for Bank and Locum Staff

One of the most important considerations when choosing flexible work in healthcare is understanding what you will be paid. Whether you are planning to pick up NHS bank shifts or work as a locum healthcare professional, knowing what pay rates to expect helps you plan your finances, set your goals, and make informed career decisions.

While NHS pay is often based on a national structure, there are differences depending on the type of work, when you work, and where you work. This guide explains everything you need to know about NHS pay rates for bank and locum staff.

How NHS Pay Rates Are Set

Most NHS roles are governed by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. This national framework groups roles into bands based on skills, qualifications, and responsibilities. Each band has a defined pay range that increases with experience and service.

• Band 2 covers roles like healthcare assistants
• Band 5 typically includes staff nurses, radiographers and newly qualified AHPs
• Band 6 and Band 7 cover senior and specialist positions

As you move up the bands, your basic pay increases accordingly. When you work bank or locum shifts, your pay is generally aligned with your band and the duties of the shift you cover.

NHS Bank Staff Pay

Typical Pay for Bank Staff

• Bank staff are usually paid at the same hourly rate as substantive NHS employees doing the same job
• Enhancements are applied for nights, weekends, and public holidays
• High Cost Area Supplements are added for working in London and some surrounding areas

Here is a rough guide to basic hourly rates in 2024/25:

• Band 2 (Healthcare Assistant): around £11.45 per hour
• Band 5 (Staff Nurse): around £15.67 per hour
• Band 6 (Senior Nurse/Physio): around £19.20 per hour
• Band 7 (Advanced Practitioner): around £23.00 per hour

These rates increase significantly when enhancements are added for unsocial hours.

Enhancement Rates for Bank Staff

• 30% extra for evening and Saturday shifts
• 60% extra for Sundays and public holidays

By strategically choosing when you work, you can earn much more than the basic weekday rate.

Other Benefits for Bank Staff

• Paid holiday entitlement (often included in the hourly rate)
• Access to NHS pension scheme (in many banks)
• Familiarity with local systems and teams

Locum Staff Pay

Typical Pay for Locum Staff

• Locum pay rates can be higher than bank rates, especially in shortage specialties
• Rates are often quoted per hour but vary widely based on role, location and urgency

Example hourly rates for locum work:

• Locum GP: £70 to £100+ per hour
• Consultant Doctors: £80 to £120+ per hour
• Emergency Department Nurses: £28 to £45 per hour
• Critical Care Nurses: £30 to £50 per hour
• Operating Department Practitioners: £30 to £45 per hour
• Mental Health Nurses: £25 to £40 per hour

These figures are rough averages and can be higher for urgent or specialist shifts.

Factors Affecting Locum Pay

• Specialist skills or certifications often command higher rates
• Remote or less popular locations may offer higher rates to attract staff
• Night, weekend and holiday shifts pay more than weekday day shifts
• Short-notice requirements often lead to premium rates

Potential Downsides of Locum Agency Work

• Hidden deductions from umbrella company arrangements
• Inconsistent access to NHS pension and benefits
• Frequent changes in work environments
• Variability in shift availability

Locum work offers strong earning potential but requires careful management of your time, finances, and compliance documentation.

Comparing Bank and Locum Pay

Bank Pay Strengths

• Predictable rates in line with NHS structures
• Enhancements for unsocial hours
• Paid leave entitlement
• NHS pension access

Locum Pay Strengths

• Often higher per-hour rates, especially in high-demand roles
• Freedom to choose shifts across many locations
• Potential to pick up urgent, high-paying shifts

Things to Watch Out For

• Agencies may advertise higher rates but final take-home pay can be reduced by umbrella company deductions
• Bank work may be more stable but sometimes offers fewer shifts depending on demand

The best route depends on your personal priorities, financial goals and work-life balance needs.

How Flexzo Ai Helps You Maximise Your Earnings

Flexzo Ai provides a smarter, fairer alternative for finding NHS shifts. As a collaborative staff bank platform, Flexzo Ai connects healthcare professionals directly with NHS Trusts without agency middlemen.

Key Benefits of Using Flexzo Ai

• Access shifts across multiple NHS Trusts
• NHS-aligned pay rates plus enhancements for unsocial hours
• No hidden agency fees cutting into your earnings
• One-time compliance process to save you time
• Direct payment from NHS Trusts
• Smart matching to shifts that fit your skills and location

Flexzo Ai was built with healthcare professionals in mind to provide a sustainable, transparent way to work flexibly in healthcare without sacrificing your earnings or stability.

How to Boost Your Pay as a Bank or Locum Worker

• Work Unsocial Shifts: Choosing nights, weekends, and bank holidays can significantly boost your hourly pay.
• Be Available for High-Demand Specialties: If you have critical care, A&E, theatre or mental health skills, make them known. These shifts often pay more.
• Stay Flexible with Locations: Working at different Trusts or in areas where staffing gaps are common increases your options.
• Keep Your Compliance Updated: Being shift-ready at all times means you can respond to opportunities quickly, especially for last-minute, high-paying shifts.
• Choose Collaborative Platforms Over Agencies: Keeping more of your pay by working through direct platforms like Flexzo Ai means your hard work is properly rewarded.

Final Thoughts

Whether you choose NHS bank work or locum shifts, understanding NHS pay rates helps you make smarter career choices. Bank staff enjoy stability, consistent NHS pay, and access to benefits, while locum staff often have higher earning potential but face more variability.

The key is finding a solution that fits your goals, protects your earnings, and gives you the flexibility you need to thrive in your career. Flexzo Ai brings together the best of both worlds. By giving healthcare professionals direct access to NHS shifts across multiple Trusts, with transparent pay and simple compliance, Flexzo Ai offers a better way to work flexibly without sacrificing your income or peace of mind.