The Scottish government’s pay offer relates to all staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions employed by the NHS in Scotland. The pay offer follows weeks of negotiations between the RCN, other health trade unions, the Scottish government and NHS employers. The offer is for a consolidated 5.5% increase with effect from 1 April 2024 for all NHS Scotland staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
Read the new NHS pay offer in full and find out what it means for you.
If the majority of members vote to accept the offer, RCN Scotland would confirm to the Scottish Government the RCN’s position. The RCN would seek implementation of the offer as soon as possible. We would hope that the 5.5% increase would be applied to salaries from October 2024. It would be backdated to 1 April 2024 and the backdated element of the offer would be paid as soon as possible.
If the offer is accepted all staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions would receive the increase.
This offer applies to staff employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions, this includes those working on staff bank contracts. If accepted all staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions would receive the increase.
Yes, if the offer is accepted you will be entitled to back pay up to the time you left employment. You should speak to your payroll department once the outcome of the consultation has been confirmed. If you have retired this may impact your pension and a mechanism will be put in place to inform SPPA.
Your pay is determined by your employer and not by the Scottish government. The Scottish government’s pay offer relates to staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. However, many independent health and social care employers use NHS pay as a benchmark in setting pay. Increases in NHS pay often lead to increases in pay in other parts of the health and care sector.
The Scottish government must invest in nursing, not just in the NHS, but all services and settings where nursing care is delivered. The RCN has always called for pay parity between the NHS and every other health and social care setting. We continue to support members employed in independent health and social care settings to seek appropriate recognition in their pay and working conditions in respect of the complex, expert care they deliver.
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We have raised this with the Scottish government as we are aware that the payment of a lump sum for the backdated element could have an impact on members who are in receipt of some means tested benefits. We are pushing Scottish government and employers to set up a system to members can opt to have their back pay paid in instalments.
On 29 July the UK government announced that it had accepted the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation for a 5.5% increase for NHS staff in England. RCN members in England are being consulted on whether or not they accept the pay award. The consultation closes at midday on 16 September.
The Welsh government has yet to make an announcement on the NHS pay award for staff on NHS (Agenda for Change) terms and conditions in Wales. The RCN has called for an urgent response from the Welsh government. Nursing staff in Wales deserve the same prompt action and recognition on pay as colleagues in England.
The RCN expects the 5.5% Agenda for Change pay award announced in England will be implemented in full in Northern Ireland. We await confirmation from the Northern Ireland Department of Health as clarity is required regarding the funding of the award in Northern Ireland.