Nurses are losing out on pay due to a staged wage increase, claims Kate Harris, commercial director of healthcare recruiter Pulse.

Harris says that health secretary Alan Johnson's proposal of a pay-rise for the lowest-paid staff in the NHS is not as positive as it might first appear, particularly for nurses.

She told Recruiter: "We are pleased to see this rise, but the nurses have lost out quite seriously because the award is staged. They are at a disadvantage."

Earlier this month, Johnson endorsed the pay rise that saw staff get a 1.5% rise in April, which will be boosted to 2.5% from November.

As a result of the package, the lowest-paid staff are guaranteed a £400-a-year salary increase.

Some staff will also receive a payment of £38, about half the professional registration fees that nurses and some others pay to be able to work. An extra one-off of £14m is to be ring-fenced for training.

Johnson said: "I have pledged to listen to frontline NHS staff and work with them to provide a health service that meets everyone's needs. This offer preserves the tough line on public sector pay which we have had to take this year but I believe that it will help low-paid staff on the first rung of the career ladder, not only through improved pay, but also through help with training."

The recruitment industry's trade body is hopeful that Johnson's announcement will lead to a "more positive" outlook for NHS locum staff.

Speaking on behalf of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's medical sector group, Tom Hadley, director of external relations, told Recruiter: "We will be working with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency to see that these pay awards are reflected in the wages of locums."

He added: "The new health secretary is out to try and start off on a positive note and we are hopeful that this includes a more positive perspective on the contribution that temporary staff make to the NHS on a daily basis."