NHS nurses in Scotland to receive further pay rise under two-year deal

Nursing staff in Scotland will receive an additional pay increase this month, under the terms of the two-year NHS pay deal agreed last year by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and other health trade unions.

The deal, which covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years, includes a mechanism guaranteeing that pay rises will be at least 1% above average consumer price index (CPI) inflation for the relevant year.

With inflation for 2025 confirmed in January at 3.4%, this triggers a further 0.15% increase, backdated to April 2025, taking the total pay rise for 2025-26 to 4.4%, the RCN has confirmed.

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The union said the additional amount would be reflected in February pay packets, with back pay expected in March.

The agreement also contains a similar inflation guarantee for 2026-27. If average CPI inflation for 2026 exceeds the 3.75% rise already agreed for that year, a further increase would be applied early in 2027.

Despite the pay increases in the two years covered by the deal, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland executive director, insisted that current wages do not reflect nursing’s safety-critical role.

‘Hard working nursing staff deserve every help they can get,’ he said. ‘We have highlighted repeatedly how nursing pay has been eroded over the years.

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‘Fair pay is vital to retain and recruit nursing staff, to fill the thousands of vacant nurse jobs and to ensure people receive the care they deserve,’ Mr Poolman added.

The RCN said it would continue to monitor inflation and lobby the Scottish Government on wider reforms to the Agenda for Change pay system.

Last April, general practice nurses (GPNs) in Scotland were told they would have to wait for the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration and the government’s subsequent response before any pay increase can be implemented.

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It was later announced that nurses employed directly by general practices should receive a 4.25% pay increase for 2025-26, in line with the Agenda for Change increase, and supported by funding from the Scottish Government.

Nursing in Practice is seeking clarification on what the latest rise for NHS nurses in Scotland means for GPNs in the country.