Scots health staff to get recommended 1% pay increase

From 1 April this year, NHS staff in Scotland are to benefit from an independently recommended pay rise, after the Scottish Government accepted recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body and Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB).

NHS staff in Scotland will receive, for the second year in a row, a one per cent rise – while staff earning under £21,000 will also receive an additional sum to increase their pay by at least £300.

The changes mean Scotland is the only UK nation to request and observe the NHS pay review bodies’ recommendations for staff this year, putting employees on the highest comparable rates in the UK.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Today, I can confirm that our hardworking 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 one per cent 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.

“While the independently recommend 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.

“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 the recommendation for independent contractor general dental practitioners who provide NHS services. This will mean an increase of 1.61 per cent in fees, which corresponds to a one per cent increase in net income.

The recommendation to uplift GP pay net of expenses by one per cent has also been accepted. An announcement on the expenses element for general medical practitioners will be made in the near future.