NHS medical and dental workers given 2.8% pay rise

NHS medical and dental staff will receive a 2.8% pay rise, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

The increase will also be given to GPs and general dental practitioners and has been backdated to April 1.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman applauded NHS staff as she announced the rise.

She said: “The continued hard work and dedication of staff makes our NHS the treasured institution it is, and ensures that the people of Scotland continue to receive world class healthcare.

“This uplift demonstrates that we fully value all our medical and dental staff and the important contribution they make.

“It’s crucial that we continue to not only recruit and build our future NHS workforce, but also retain expertise within NHS Scotland.

“This announcement means that our senior medical staff will continue to be the best paid in the UK.

“This will help to ensure that NHS Scotland remains an attractive employment option for medical and dental staff.”

Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland, welcomed the rise and said it was a “further step in the right direction”.

He added: “It demonstrates an understanding and recognition of the huge contribution doctors make, reflects the value of the working relationship with government that we’ve developed during the pandemic, and we hope that it is the start of a more positive trend.

“It represents one of many steps on the long road to restoring morale and improving doctors’ working lives which include the need for effective recruitment and retention, workforce planning and measures to improve NHS culture and doctors’ welfare.”