NHS staff in Scotland will receive a 1% pay rise, with lower-paid workers to receive an additional boost to their salaries, Health Secretary Shona Robison has announced.
It is the third year in a row wages for health service workers north of the border have been increased, giving NHS workers in Scotland the highest pay rates in the UK, according to the Scottish Government.
The rise will come in from April 1, with workers earning less than £22,000 a year to receive an additional sum which will increase their annual pay by at least £400.
The rise comes after the Scottish Government accepted recommendations on pay from the NHS Pay Review Body and Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB).
Ms Robison said: “We are committing nearly £100 million next year to ensure all NHS staff groups in Scotland will receive a one per cent pay increase.
“We will also supplement the pay of those currently earning under £22,000 to ensure they receive an increase of at least £400.”
She 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.
“Our commitment to this pay increase, and to the living wage, for NHS workers underlines the value we place on frontline staff who work incredibly hard every day to care for the people of Scotland.”