NHS staff pay rise

The majority of NHS Scotland staff will receive a 3% pay rise this year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

The announcement benefits 147,000 ‘Agenda for Change’ staff, such as nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, therapists, paramedics, support staff and administrators. It does not affect doctors, dentists or senior managers.

Staff currently earning up to £80,000 will receive at least a 3% uplift, and those earning £80,000 and over will receive a flat rate increase of £1,600. Staff not at the top of their pay bands will also receive any incremental progression they are due.

This uplift is a payment on account of progress made in negotiations so far. Negotiations between the Scottish Government, employers and unions on pay, terms and conditions continue towards a three year pay deal.

Compared to equivalent staff in NHS England:

• Experienced porters at the top of Band 2 will be over £500 better off
• Healthcare assistants at the top of Band 3 will be over £600 better off
• Auxiliary nurses with a year’s experience in Band 4 would be over £800 better off.
• Nurses with five years’ experience in Band 5 will be over £400 better off
• Paramedics in middle of Band 6 will be over £450 better off
• Advanced Nurse Practitioners in the middle of Band 7 will be over £250 better off

For staff paid weekly, the pay uplift will be paid week beginning 2 July 2018. For those paid monthly, the uplift will be made in end July salaries. The payments will be backdated to 1 April 2018 as quickly as possible.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“We know that for NHS staff, and all those who work in our public services, the last few years of pay restraint have been tough. That’s why I’m proud that our government was the first in the UK to lift the 1% pay cap.

“We’re currently in negotiations to agree a 3 year pay deal for NHS staff in which we aim to not just match but exceed the deal agreed in England. I hope these talks reach a positive conclusion soon.

“But I don’t want those working so hard in the NHS to have to wait for that agreement to get a pay rise this year. So I can announce today that we will make a payment on account as negotiations continue.

“All staff working under NHS Agenda for Change and earning up to 80,000 pounds, will get an immediate 3% pay rise and it will be in their pay packets next month.

“That means the vast majority of our frontline NHS staff will be paid, not just the same as in NHS England this year, but more."