NHS Trusts & Health Boards

Pay by location — what genuinely changes depending on who employs you, and what doesn't.

Agenda for Change pay is a national pay system: a Band 6 nurse, physiotherapist or administrator is on the same national pay scale whether they work for a hospital trust in Newcastle or a health board in Cardiff. See the full Agenda for Change pay scales for 2026/27 for every band and point. So in one sense, "how much does this trust pay?" has a simple answer — the same as any other NHS employer at the same band — give or take two things that genuinely do vary depending on where you work.

The first is the High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) — the London and fringe weighting that adds a percentage on top of band pay for people working in and around London. Whether it applies, and at what rate (inner, outer or fringe), depends entirely on your employer's location, so it's worth checking for the specific trust or health board you're applying to before you assume a number. Use the NHS Pay Calculator to see your exact figure, HCAS included.

NHS Pay Calculator

Check your HCAS-adjusted pay for a specific trust's zone — inner, outer, fringe or none.

Try it →

The second is which organisation is actually your employer. Your trust or health board — not "the NHS" as a single entity — is your legal employer, and that matters for things like continuous service and how redundancy pay is calculated, as well as for understanding how the wider system fits together locally. See our guides to NHS redundancy pay and how NHS trusts and health boards are structured for what that means in practice.

Working in Scotland? The NHS Scotland health boards directory lists every territorial and special board with pay and contact routes.

Browse major trusts and health boards below by nation to see the region, organisation type and HCAS status for each, then click through for pay-and-working-there specifics. If you're trying to work out which trust and city are actually right for you — not just what a trust pays — the new NHS Jobs & Recruitment hub has an AI-matched shortlist tool, a trust comparison tool, and dedicated city-by-city guides covering culture, HCAS status and cost of living.

This page lists major acute, mental health, ambulance, community and specialist trusts and health boards across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — it isn't an exhaustive register of every NHS employer, and we're adding more over time. What it won't do is invent trust-specific facts we can't verify — CQC ratings, staff numbers or local service detail belong on the trust's own site, not here; our How NHS Hospitals Are Rated explainer covers how the CQC rating system itself works if you want to understand it before checking a specific trust.

England

Barts Health NHS Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Acute

No HCAS

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

West Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Acute

No HCAS

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Acute

No HCAS

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

London · Ambulance

Inner London HCAS

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

South Central England · Ambulance

Fringe HCAS

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

London · Mental Health

Inner London HCAS

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

East Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Acute

No HCAS

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

Fringe HCAS

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

London · Mental Health

Inner London HCAS

East London NHS Foundation Trust

London · Mental Health

Inner London HCAS

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Community

No HCAS

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

North West England · Ambulance

No HCAS

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Ambulance

No HCAS

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust

West Midlands · Ambulance

No HCAS

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

East of England · Ambulance

No HCAS

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

West Yorkshire · Acute

No HCAS

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

Fringe HCAS

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

South Yorkshire · Acute

No HCAS

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Acute

No HCAS

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

London · Acute

Outer London HCAS

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Acute

No HCAS

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Acute

No HCAS

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Acute

No HCAS

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South Central England · Acute

No HCAS

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Outer London HCAS

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Acute

No HCAS

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Outer London HCAS

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Acute

No HCAS

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Acute

No HCAS

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Acute

No HCAS

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

East Midlands · Acute

No HCAS

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Acute

No HCAS

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

Fringe HCAS

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Acute

No HCAS

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Acute

Fringe HCAS

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Specialist

No HCAS

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

London · Specialist

Inner London HCAS

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Specialist

No HCAS

North East London NHS Foundation Trust

London · Mental Health

Outer London HCAS

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

London · Acute

Inner London HCAS

Isle of Wight NHS Trust

South East England · Acute

No HCAS

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Specialist

No HCAS

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Specialist

No HCAS

Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Specialist

No HCAS

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

London · Specialist

Inner London HCAS

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

London · Specialist

Inner London HCAS

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

London · Specialist

Outer London HCAS

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

West Midlands · Specialist

No HCAS

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Specialist

No HCAS

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Community

No HCAS

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

East Midlands · Ambulance

No HCAS

North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Ambulance

No HCAS

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Ambulance

Fringe HCAS

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

South West England · Ambulance

No HCAS

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

South West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

West Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

West Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust

West Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

South West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Mental Health

Fringe HCAS

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Mental Health

No HCAS

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

East Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

East of England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

East Midlands · Mental Health

No HCAS

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

North West England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Mental Health

No HCAS

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

London · Mental Health

Inner London HCAS

South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber · Mental Health

No HCAS

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Mental Health

Fringe HCAS

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

South East England · Mental Health

No HCAS

North London NHS Foundation Trust

London · Mental Health

Inner London HCAS

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

North East England · Mental Health

No HCAS

Scotland

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

West of Scotland · Health Board

No HCAS

NHS Lothian

Edinburgh and the Lothians · Health Board

No HCAS

NHS Grampian

North East Scotland · Health Board

No HCAS

NHS Tayside

Tayside · Health Board

No HCAS

NHS Fife

Fife · Health Board

No HCAS

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Ayrshire and Arran · Health Board

No HCAS

Wales

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

South East Wales · Health Board

No HCAS

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

North Wales · Health Board

No HCAS

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

South East Wales · Health Board

No HCAS

Swansea Bay University Health Board

South West Wales · Health Board

No HCAS

Hywel Dda University Health Board

West Wales · Health Board

No HCAS

Northern Ireland

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Belfast · Acute

No HCAS

Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Antrim, Ballymena and Causeway Coast · Acute

No HCAS

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon and Newry · Acute

No HCAS

Western Health and Social Care Trust

Derry/Londonderry, Omagh and Fermanagh · Acute

No HCAS

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Ards, Down and Lisburn · Acute

No HCAS

NHS trusts and health boards: frequently asked questions

Does pay actually differ between NHS trusts? +
Not for the underlying Agenda for Change salary — a Band 6 post is on the same national Band 6 pay scale regardless of which trust employs you. What genuinely varies by trust is the High Cost Area Supplement (whether your location qualifies, and at what rate) and, for roles outside Agenda for Change, doctors' and dentists' pay under their own separate national contract. See Agenda for Change Explained for how the national scale itself works.
What is the High Cost Area Supplement, and how do I know if my trust gets it? +
It's an additional percentage paid on top of Agenda for Change salary for staff working in and around London, at inner, outer or fringe rates depending on location. The HCAS status shown against each trust below indicates which zone (if any) applies; use the NHS Pay Calculator to see the exact cash figure it adds at your band.
Is my trust really my legal employer, not "the NHS" as a whole? +
Yes — your trust or health board is the specific organisation that employs you, holds your contract, and is legally responsible for things like redundancy and continuous service calculations. "The NHS" isn't a single employer. See our NHS redundancy pay guide and how NHS trusts and health boards are structured for what that means in practice.
What's the difference between an NHS trust and a health board? +
They're the equivalent organisational unit in different nations: "NHS trust" (or NHS foundation trust) is the term used in England and, with local naming variations, Northern Ireland, while "health board" is the term used in Scotland and Wales. Functionally, both employ staff and run services for a given area or specialism in the same way.
Does organisation type — acute, mental health, ambulance, community — affect pay? +
Not directly. Agenda for Change bands the job, not the type of trust, so a Band 6 post pays the same whether it's at an acute hospital trust or an ambulance trust. What can differ in practice between trust types is the mix of roles, shift patterns and unsocial-hours or on-call payments actually available, since those depend on the kind of service being run.
Where do I check a specific trust's CQC rating? +
Not on this page — we deliberately don't restate CQC ratings here, since they change and a stale rating is worse than no rating. Our How NHS Hospitals Are Rated explainer covers how the CQC rating system works; check the CQC's own site for a specific trust's current rating.
Why isn't my trust listed here? +
This page covers major acute, mental health, ambulance, community and specialist trusts and health boards rather than every NHS employer in the UK — we're adding more over time rather than listing one we can't keep accurate. The pay principles covered across this site (Agenda for Change, HCAS, redundancy, pension) apply to your trust just the same, whether or not it has its own dedicated page yet.
Does which trust I work for affect my NHS Pension? +
No — the NHS Pension Scheme is a single national scheme regardless of which trust or health board employs you; your accrual, contribution tier and benefits are governed by the scheme's own rules, not by your specific employer. See our NHS Pension Scheme 2015 guide for how that works.
Does moving from one trust to another affect my continuous service? +
Moving directly between NHS employers generally preserves continuous service for the purposes that depend on it (such as annual leave and sick pay entitlement), though the exact rules depend on the circumstances of the move and any gap between posts. Check with your new employer's HR team or your union for how it applies to your specific move.
Do foundation trusts pay differently to non-foundation trusts? +
No — foundation trust status is about how an organisation is governed and regulated, not about pay. Both foundation and non-foundation NHS trusts employ staff on the same national Agenda for Change terms (or the separate doctors' and dentists' contract, where relevant).

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