1% Pay Increase For Health Workers

Health workers in Scotland are to get a 1% pay rise for the second year in a row, the Health Secretary has confirmed. Shona Robison said the move meant NHS staff in Scotland would get a better deal than their counterparts south of the border'', who did not benefit from an increase in wages this financial year. From the start of next month health workers in Scotland will receive a 1% consolidated pay rise, with those earning less than £21,000 being given additional money to ensure their pay is up by at least £300. It comes after the Scottish Government accepted recommendations put forward by the NHS Pay Review Body and Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body. Scotland was the only part of the UK to agree to the request for a pay rise for NHS staff in 2014-15. Ms Robison announced staff would now get a second increase of 1%, saying:I can confirm that our hard-working and dedicated NHS Scotland staff will rightly receive the wage increases they were promised. This means that all NHS staff groups in Scotland will receive a 1% pay increase and we will supplement the pay of those currently earning under £21,000 to ensure they receive an increase of at least £300.'' The increase will mean that from April 1 this year the starting salary for a Band 5 nurse in Scotland will be £21,818, with the Scottish Government stating this is over £120 more than in England and Wales. For an experienced Band 5 nurse at the top of their pay scale wages in Scotland will be increased to £28,462, which is £282 more than south of the border, according to the Scottish Government. Ms Robison added:While the independently recommended uplift is modest, it comes against the background of substantial cuts in Scotland's budget from Westminster and will continue to give NHS staff in Scotland a better deal than their counterparts south of the border. As well as delivering the fully consolidated pay rise for NHS staff, and guaranteeing that all employees are paid at least the living wage, we are also committed to no compulsory redundancies for NHS Scotland staff.This stands in contrast to the actions of the UK Government, who are not providing the same for staff in NHS England. 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 Scottish Government has also accepted recommendations for NHS dentists which will mean they get a 1.61% increase in fees, which corresponds to a 1% rise in their net income. Ministers have also accepted a recommendation to increase GP pay net of expenses by 1%.