WIREDGOV

NHS Scotland workers to get one per cent increase.

NHS staff in Scotland are to benefit from a pay rise in 2014/15, thanks to changes agreed by the Scottish Government.

From 1 April 2014, NHS staff in Scotland will receive a one per cent pay uplift, while staff earning under £21,000 will also receive an additional sum to increase their pay by £300 in total.

The changes will be implemented after the Scottish Government accepted recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body and Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB).

Health Secretary Alex Neil said:

“I was clear when Jeremy Hunt first suggested reneging on the one per cent pay offer for NHS staff in England that we would block that move here and that we would fully implement the modest increase in Scotland.

“Today, I can confirm we’ll deliver on that approach in Scotland’s NHS, ensuring our hardworking and dedicated staff rightly receive the wage increases they were promised.

“This means that all NHS staff groups in Scotland covered by the remits of these bodies will receive a one per cent pay increase, and we will supplement the pay of those currently earning under £21,000 to ensure they receive a total increase of £300.

“I have also taken steps to ensure that no NHS Scotland worker can be paid below the Scottish Living Wage.

“Our commitment to this pay increase, and to the living wage, for NHS workers underlines our commitment to frontline staff delivering services for the people of Scotland.

“The new rates of pay will be payable from 1 April 2014.”

Tom Waterson, Chairman of Unison's Scottish health committee, said:

“We are delighted the Scottish Government has decided to implement the recommendations of the pay review body in full.

“We would urge the UK Government to also commit to paying health service staff the recommendations in full. We went into these negotiations in good faith and we expect the clear recommendations of the pay review body to be delivered. It is good news for NHS staff that the Scottish Government have committed to doing that.”

Notes to editors

Agenda for Change Pay Band 5 is the most common for nurses in Scotland.

For example, a Band 5 nurse who began work on 1 October 2011, would currently be on £22,903.

In England, they will get no increase in pay on 1 April 2014. They will stay on £22,903 until 1 October 2014 when they will get incremental progression to £23,825.

In Scotland, this staff member will get a one per cent increase in pay on 1 April 2014. Their salary will therefore rise to £23,132. On 1 October 2014 they will get incremental progression to £24,063.

This means in March 2015, this nurse would be £238 better off in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has also accepted the recommendation for independent contractor general dental practitioners who provide NHS services. This will mean an increase of 1.71 per cent in item of service fees, which corresponds to a 1 per cent increase in earnings.

An announcement on the recommendation for general medical practitioners will be made shortly.