NHS Critical Care Outreach Nurse salary, 2026/27
Critical care outreach nurses are senior intensive care nurses who respond to acutely deteriorating patients on general wards, supporting ward teams to escalate care and avoid avoidable intensive care admissions. They lead on NEWS-2 escalation, sepsis recognition and tracheostomy care training. The role is typically Band 7, with some senior posts at Band 8a.
- Range (England)
- £39,959 to £56,515
- Typical bands
- Band 6, Band 7
- Hourly entry
- £20.44
- Hourly top
- £28.90
Critical Care Outreach Nurse pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Critical Care Outreach Nurses are typically paid on. Most Critical Care Outreach Nurses move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Critical Care Outreach Nurse pay in Scotland
Scottish NHS staff are paid on a separate pay scale, negotiated by the Scottish Government rather than the UK Pay Review Body. Scotland consistently pays more than England at every band. The figures below are the Scottish equivalents for the same bands.
Common questions
- What pay band is a Critical Care Outreach Nurse on?
- NHS Critical Care Outreach Nurses sit at Band 6 or Band 7 depending on experience and the specific responsibilities of the role. Newly qualified Critical Care Outreach Nurses usually start on the lowest banding shown, with progression to the higher bands as they take on more senior or specialist work.
- How much does an NHS Critical Care Outreach Nurse earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Critical Care Outreach Nurse earns between £39,959 and £56,515 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £20.44 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £28.90 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Critical Care Outreach Nurses earn between £43,231 and £61,466 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Critical Care Outreach Nurse jobs in the NHS?
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) lists all current vacancies across the four UK nations. Filter by 'Pay Band' to focus on roles at the band you're interested in. HSC Recruit covers Northern Ireland (jobs.hscni.net) and NHS Scotland Jobs covers Scotland (jobs.scot.nhs.uk). Most Trusts also list vacancies on their own websites alongside the national portal.
- Does Critical Care Outreach Nurse get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Critical Care Outreach Nurses working at Inner London Trusts get 20% on top of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 for 2026/27). Outer London is 15%, Fringe is 5%. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Critical Care Outreach Nurses don't receive a London weighting equivalent.