Junior doctors to be offered "biggest ever pay uplift"
The First Minister is hoping to avoid planned strikes later this month
Junior doctors are set to receive a pay rise in an effort to avoid potential strike action later this month.
The increase is being hailed by the First Minister as the biggest since devolution, as he promises the offer for junior staff which could amount to “thousands of pounds”.
It comes as the Scottish Government confirmed senior NHS staff will be given a 6% pay increase following negotiations with the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body.
Speaking at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS at Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert, Humza Yousaf said he planned to meet with the BMA on Tuesday to discuss the new offer.
"Biggest ever pay uplift"
He said: “I'm prepared to offer junior doctors the biggest ever uplift seen in the history of devolution, and if accepted, it would put thousands of pounds into the pockets of our junior doctors and they will be worth every single penny."
It comes as the Scottish Government confirmed senior NHS staff will be given a 6% pay increase following negotiations with the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced junior doctors would walk out between July 12 and 15 after rejecting a 14.5% increase over two years.
The offer was initially described as the "best and final" deal from the Scottish Government.
Mr Yousaf said the plans would only be discussed with junior doctors but said methods could include going above and beyond a one-year pay rise, or reforming contracts and working conditions.
He added: "There isn't, I'm afraid, money down the back of the sofa, I think people know that given the difficult financial constraints that the Government is operating under."
It comes after Mr Yousaf chaired a resilience meeting with senior ministers and health bosses to plan contingencies in the event of the expected strikes.
Mr Yousaf told journalists the walkouts could be "hugely significant", resulting in "potentially tens of thousands of patients being affected and having their procedures cancelled".
Speaking to the PA news agency, he added: “I do believe the BMA, absolutely, when they say they want to do everything they can to avoid industrial action."