NHS staff in Scotland
The Scottish government has confirmed providing NHS staff in Scotland at least four percent pay rise.
Nurses, paramedics and domestic staff are among those who could receive the boost to their salaries.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the average pay of a front line NHS nurse would rise by over $1,650 a year.
She said the offer – which does not apply to doctors – recognized the “service and dedication” of staff during the pandemic
The settlement will be backdated to 1 December 2020 in recognition of an “exceptional year of significant pressure”.
It follows the $685 thank you payment for all health and social care workers which was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in November.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended plans to give some NHS staff in England a one percent pay rise.
He praised “heroic” health and social care workers but said the rise was as much as the government could afford during the “tough times” of the pandemic.
Freeman described the Scottish government’s offer as “the biggest single pay uplift since devolution” for NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) staff.
AfC is the current grading and pay system for NHS staff. It does not include doctors, dentists, executives and senior managers.
She added it would benefit 154,000 staff and including domestic staff, porters and health care support workers.
This group, which she described as “the backbone of our services” would see pay rises of more than £1,000, the equivalent of between 4% and 5.4 percent.
Freeman said: “This has been an exceptionally challenging year for our health service and I am pleased that the Scottish government is able to recognize the service and dedication of our healthcare staff.”
The announcement follows ongoing negotiations between the Scottish government, NHS employers and unions, who will now consult their members on the offer.
