If you are a band 5 nurse working in Scotland, are you still missing out on a big salary boost?  

You may be if you’ve not yet made your band 5 nursing roles review submission. 

Let’s be clear. The review is about lifting the baseline banding for nursing, recognising clinical skills and expertise, and making sure that you are rewarded properly for the work you are doing now. 

But those who have successfully had their role rebanded are seeing a significant difference to their pay and future pay progression. 

If successful, and your pay rebanding is backdated as far back as 1 April 2023 (the cut-off point for backdating), this is how your salary will progress: 

• April 2023 – entry point of band 6 - £37,831
• April 2025 – mid-point of band 6 - £43,441 
• April 2028 – top point of band 6 – £52,603

These figures are at today’s pay rates, before the pay award of 3.75% for 2026-27 due in April.  

Participation in the review is high. We’ve seen 2 in 5 band 5 nurses get involved in the process; 1 in 5 of band 5 nurses have already submitted their rebanding application; and 9 in 10 of those applications have been successful to date. And that’s across a range of clinical settings and fields of practice. 

Currently, there is no agreed closing date for the review, but it won’t be open for ever. While job evaluation under the NHS Agenda for Change pay scheme will still be a contractual right, the band 5 nursing roles review is a one-off agreement and will end at some point. We will be sure to give as much notice as is possible of any discussion on a closing date. 

So what do you need to do to avoid missing out? 

The first thing to do is to shut out any of the misinformation about the band 5 review that is circulating. If you are a band 5 nurse you are entitled to make a submission to the review, regardless of what other staff say. You are not applying for a promotion, you are asking for your role to be properly evaluated, and you will not need to take on yet more responsibility if successful. Read our FAQs to clear up some of the myths surrounding the process. 

Next, you should login to the Band 5 Portal to start your application. Remember to check out our advice and support resources. You should also think about working together with colleagues who do a similar role to you to complete a grouped application.  

You may also have heard that health boards are talking a long time to process applications, but do not let that put you off making a submission. Remember, if you are successful, your pay will be backdated to the date you are deemed to have started in your role, up to 1 April 2023 if you started before that date. 

We are continuing to offer support to members through the submission process and are applying pressure to health boards to run the process correctly and in a timely fashion. 

Many boards are learning from the process and are increasing capacity and pace, so do not be put off by the wait. 

So, don’t miss out – the review is a huge win for nursing and it could be a huge win for you too. 

Note - If you are not a band 5 nurse but feel your role needs reviewed, you are entitled to a job evaluation under Agenda for Change and we will support you through that application too.

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