The Scottish government has offered NHS workers what it says is a “substantial pay rise” after an exceptionally challenging year.

The government says the 4% offer follows “positive discussions” over recent weeks with NHS trade unions and NHS Employers.

If accepted by staff, the deal “will be most generous NHS pay uplift anywhere in the UK, and would represent the biggest single year increase in pay for NHS staff since devolution” the Scottish government said in a statement.

A total of 154,000 NHS Agenda for Change employees would be in line for the uplift, including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, domestic and healthcare support staff, porters and other front line health workers.

News of the offer, just hours before the start of pre-election restrictions on government announcements, comes weeks after the government pressed ahead with an interim 1% pay rise that left unions representing NHS staff ‘angry and disappointed’.

Following the 1% rise at the end of February, the Scottish government said pay negotiations would not begin until the summer.

Days later however, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman agreed to commence negotiations with the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee “immediately”.

Under the offer announced late last night, staff on pay bands one to seven in the NHS would receive at least a 4% pay rise compared to 2020-21, with staff who earned less than £25,000 in 2020-21 getting a guaranteed minimum increase of over £1,000 in 2021-22.

Those on the highest pay points would receive uplifts of £800.

The government has said that although pay increases are usually effective from the 1st April the new offer would be backdated to the 1^st December 2020 “in recognition of an exceptional year of significant pressure” for staff.

The offer has been made just before the Scottish government enters the pre-election period.

Colin Poolman, Chair of the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC) and Royal College of Nursing Scotland Senior Officer said: “The timescale for negotiations was tight as a result of the forthcoming election but we have now received an offer for a one year pay deal.”

Each individual trade union will now enter into discussions with their members on the offer.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Following positive discussions with NHS unions and employees the Scottish government has put forward an offer of the biggest single pay uplift since devolution for NHS Agenda for Change staff.

“Over 154,000 staff would benefit from this rise, which would see the average pay of a front line NHS nurse rise by over £1,200 a year.

“This deal also includes support staff such as domestic staff, porters and health care support workers, the backbone of our services, who would see pay rises of over £1,000 – uplifts of between 4% to 5.4%. The uplift will be backdated from 1 December 2020, rather than the usual 1 April 2021, meaning all those covered by the deal will receive an extra benefit.

“This has been an exceptionally challenging year for our health service and I am pleased that the Scottish government is able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare staff.”

 

Read more: Wales to hand out tax-free covid bonus; NHS pay negotiations to start immediately; ‘Breakdown in trust’ over NHS pay negotiations

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