RCN Scotland responds to Scottish Government’s NHS pay offer for 2025-26 and 2026-27

The pay offer made today 8 April 2025 follows a period of negotiation between the RCN, other health trade unions, the Scottish government and NHS employers. The offer covers two years and proposes an increase of 4.25% from 1 April 2025 and an increase of 3.75% from 1 April 2026 for all NHS Scotland staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. 

Given uncertainty over the rates of inflation over the two-year period, the offer also includes an inflation guarantee. This will ensure the increase in pay each year is a minimum of one percentage point higher than the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate for the year.

The detail of the offer is being considered by the RCN Scotland Board, your elected representatives in Scotland. We will update you on the next steps as soon as possible.

Responding to the NHS pay offer from Scottish government, RCN Scotland Director Colin Poolman said: “It has taken months of pressure from the RCN and other health trade unions to get to this point. Yet again the Scottish government’s failure to commit to discussions earlier means the April pay anniversary has been missed and you have been kept waiting while the cost of living continues to increase.

“Our pay claim, submitted in January, called for an offer that reflects increases in living costs and begins to address the historic erosion of pay. RCN Scotland Board members are looking at the offer in detail. We will update you on next steps as soon as possible, which is why it remains very important that you make sure that the details the RCN holds about you, including your workplace and employer are correct.

“Nursing staff are the ever-present, safety critical workforce across the whole of health and care. Fair pay is vital to recruiting and retaining nursing staff, to filling the thousands of vacant jobs and giving people the care they deserve.”

• Read the detail of the offer in full
• Check your details are up to date at MyRCN