PA mediaNHS nurses, midwives, paramedics and other medical care staff throughout Scotland have voted to accept a salary agreement of approximately two years.
The Secretary of Health of Scotland, Neil Gray, said that 170,000 NHS employees now receive a 4.25% increase in 2025-26 and an increase of 3.7% the following year.
It will cost around £ 700 million and includes a “guarantee of inflation”, which means that salary increases will always be 1% above the consumer price rate (CPI).
The Scottish agreement is significant higher than the 3% recommended by the payment review agencies in England and Wales, where salary negotiations continue.
The main NHS health unions had promised to consult their members after the Scottish offer was announced last month.
It will affect a wide range of employees, including nurses, midwives, paramedics, and other workers, loaders, but not doctors whose salary is negotiated separately.
The Secretary of Health said: “We want to make sure that they feel value and rewarded and I am very happy that they have an Agg to accept a strong two -year salary agreement.
“The staff will see the benefit of this payment elevation in their payment packages from next month.
“It is guaranteed that the agreement, which is fair and affordable, will remain above the inflation of the CPI and guarantee that Scotland nurses, midwives and NHS staff have the best rewards package in the United Kingdom.”
With the salary negotiations that continue in England and Wales, it is not clear if the Westminster subsidies will cover the total cost of the increase.
PA mediaRCN Scotland, who represents nurses, said that approximately half or its eligible members to vote had vote tasks, with 60% supporting the sacrifice.
Julie Lambeth, president of the RCN Scotland Board, said she acknowledged that a significant minority voted to reject it, reflecting “frustration and continuous concern.”
“The link between the low salary, the shortage of personnel and the patient safety remain, and we will continually present the case to the Scottish government so that the reform achieves a fair salary,” he said.
Unison Scotland said that its members had voted 86% in favor of the acceptance of sacrifice on an electoral ballot, but its Health Chief, Matt McLaughlin, said there was no place for complacency.
“Waiting lists are sausage swelling. NHS in Scotland must address staff scarcity if it is about changing the fortune of the service,” he said.
The NHS workers represented by Unite also voted with overall to accept the sacrifice.
The increase will be delayed on April 1.
