NHS Scotland staff offered 8% pay increase in two-year pay offer

NHS Scotland staff have been offered an 8% pay increase over two years in a new deal from the Scottish Government.

On Tuesday, health secretary Neil Gray offered workers a 4.25% pay rise for this year and a 3.75% pay rise for next year.

The offer also includes an “inflation guarantee”, promising that NHS staff will be paid 1% above the CPI rate of inflation if it increases.

The offer for 2026/2027 is calculated based on a reduced 36 hour standard working week for all staff.

“This is a strong two-year pay offer that has been agreed following constructive engagement with trade union representatives,” Gray said.

“It is guaranteed to remain above CPI inflation, which gives added reassurance to staff, and will ensure Scotland’s nurses, midwives and NHS staff have the best pay in the UK.”

Gray said the offer comes on the back of increased employer national insurance contributions, and it directly increases the overall cost of pay by an estimated £191m for Scotland’s NHS.

Following the announcement, the UK’s largest trade union Unison, said members were being balloted on the “above-inflation” two-year pay package, which the Government has said is its final offer.

Unison Scotland co-lead for health Matt Mclaughlin said: “The union’s health committee will now take soundings from NHS staff and then meet to discuss next steps.”

Unison and other health unions met Gray for pay talks last week. As a result, unions received a formal and final written offer from the Scottish government on Tuesday.

“Unison members always have the final say on their pay so the union will put it to them in consultative ballot as soon as that can be arranged,” Mr Mclaughlin said.

GMB Scotland, one of the biggest unions in NHS Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service, confirmed its members will also be asked to vote on the pay offer.

“The offer has been received and the detailed terms are now with our members,” Keir Greenaway, the union’s senior organiser in public services, said.

“Our NHS committee is also reviewing those terms and will meet within days to decide if this offer should be recommended to our members or not.”

The pay offer will now be put to NHS staff members for a final decision.

Gray said he “hoped this offer will be accepted”.