BORIS Johnson has hinted that nurses in England may get a pay rise above the one per cent currently on offer for the NHS after the Scottish Government promised a 4 per cent hike.
Last night the Scottish Government confirmed investment of more than £300 million to deliver the pay rise for more than 150,000 NHS staff.
Nicola Sturgeon said the pay increase, which comes on top of the previously confirmed £500 thank you cash for NHS workers, shows Scotland chooses to “back our NHS”.
READ MORE: Covid update Scotland: NHS staff to receive four per cent pay rise
The First Minister commented: “The Tories’ miserly 1% pay offer south of the Border shows that they have the wrong priorities - people will no doubt wonder how they can find the money to massively increase their stockpile of nuclear weapons or build a bridge to Northern Ireland but refuse to find the money to properly reward those who were at the frontline of the pandemic.
"In the coming weeks we will say more about how we will invest, protect and remobilise our NHS to provide the care people across Scotland expect.”
The pay offer, backdated to December 2020, will see those on the salaries below £25,000 receiving increases of more than £1000.
The offer would mean that a porter at the top of pay band two, a healthcare assistant at the top of pay band three, a nurse at the top of pay band five, and a paramedic at the top of pay band six, would be around £2000 better off than their counterparts in England.
READ MORE: Holyrood election 2021: SNP on course for majority as Tories fall back, poll shows
This morning the Prime Minister told reporters: “We have asked the public sector pay review body to look at what more can be done for nurses, in particular, exceptionally.”
He added that increased recruitment was also a factor in improving conditions for nurses.
“Yes, of course, I understand why nurses – like so many others – would like to see better pay and better terms right now, even though times are very tough.
“But what nurses also want – in my experience of going round NHS wards and talking to them – (is) another pair of hands at a tough time next to them to help.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel