NHS nurses in Scotland are being asked to accept or reject the Scottish Government’s two-year pay offer in consultations led by unions.
Nurses on Agenda for Change have this month been offered an 8% two-year pay offer in Scotland, alongside the promise of an ‘inflation guarantee’.
Today, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has opened a consultation for its members on whether they accept or reject the offer. Eligible members have until midday on Wednesday 14 May to cast their vote.
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Separately, Unison and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Scotland are also consulting members on the pay offer.
While the RCN and RCM have not given a recommendation on how its members should vote, Unison has urged its members to accept the deal.
The Scottish Government’s £701m offer came following a period of negotiations between unions and ministers – though it should have been implemented in time for the new financial year earlier this month.
The offer proposes:
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- An increase of 4.25% from April 2025
- An increase of 3.75% from April 2026
- An inflation guarantee to ensure the increase in pay each year is a minimum of one percentage point higher than average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation.
RCN Scotland Board chair Julie Lamberth said: ‘Our members are rightly frustrated that the Scottish Government has kept them waiting so any increase wasn’t paid when it was due on 1 April.
‘We’re now asking them if the Scottish Government’s offer is enough. Our members have turned out in very large numbers to tell us what they think about previous pay offers from the Scottish Government. They have given us a strong indication of their views in the past – I urge them all to do so again this time.’
RCN Scotland director Colin Poolman added: ‘Nursing staff are the ever-present, safety critical workforce across the whole of health and care.
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‘Current wages do not reflect this. Fair pay is vital to recruit and retain nursing staff, to fill the thousands of vacant nurse jobs and to ensure people receive the care they deserve.’
Despite NHS nurses in Scotland having an offer on the table, general practice nurses (GPNs) will have to wait for the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB) and the government’s subsequent response before any pay increase can be implemented.
