The Scottish Government has offered a substantial pay rise for NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff, representing a four per cent pay rise compared to 2020/21 for staff on the pay bands 1 to 7.

If accepted by staff, this 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 pay rises will benefit 154,000 NHS Agenda for Change employees - including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff, porters and other front line health workers.

The proposal would mean that staff who earned less than £25,000 in 2020/21 getting a guaranteed minimum increase of over £1,000 in 2021/22. This means that staff on the lowest Agenda for Change pay point would get a 5.4 per cent increase. Those on the highest pay points will receive uplifts of £800.

While pay increases are usually effective from 1 April, the 2021/22 pay settlement will be backdated to 1 December 2020 in recognition of an exceptional year of significant pressure for staff.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Over 154,000 staff would benefit from this rise, which would see the average pay of an 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 four per cent - 5.4 per cent. 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.”