Frequently asked questions: Scotland NHS pay offer 2024-25

The Scottish government’s pay offer relates to all staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions employed by the NHS in Scotland.  The pay offer follows weeks of negotiations between the RCN, other health trade unions, the Scottish government and NHS employers. The offer is for a consolidated 5.5% increase with effect from 1 April 2024 for all NHS Scotland staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions.

Read the new NHS pay offer in full and find out what it means for you.

If the majority of members vote to accept the offer, RCN Scotland would confirm to the Scottish Government the RCN’s position. The RCN would seek implementation of the offer as soon as possible. We would hope that the 5.5% increase would be applied to salaries from October 2024. It would be backdated to 1 April 2024 and the backdated element of the offer would be paid as soon as possible.

If the offer is accepted all staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions would receive the increase.

We have made no recommendation to members to accept or reject the offer. The detail of the offer was considered by the RCN Scotland Board, your elected representatives in Scotland. The Board was briefed by our negotiators on the detail of the offer and the financial context in which it was made. After careful consideration, the Board came to the conclusion that individual members should decide whether or not this pay offer meets your expectations and accept or reject accordingly. 

Additional pay points for band 8a and above, as have been included in the NHS England award. The pay offer in Scotland is for a 5.5% uplift across all pay bands. The Scottish government does not participate in the Pay Review Body process, preferring to negotiate directly with the health trade unions. This year’s offer does not include proposals for reform of the Agenda for Change pay structure, but implementation of the reforms secured in the previous pay rounds continues. It is worth noting that the first increment within bands 8a to 9 in Scotland is higher than the increment that has been added in England, due to higher pay awards being negotiated in Scotland in previous years. 

The RCN entered into negotiations with Scottish government looking to secure a significant, fair pay rise for our members. As part of our preparations for the negotiation we considered the so-called ‘fiscal drag’ that sees people being drawn into higher tax bands as a result of pay increases and the impact the higher rate has (payable on the proportion of income over the higher rate threshold of £43,663). This, and a host of other factors, are used to inform our negotiating position and helped us push the Scottish government to offer a pay deal that is higher than their agreed public sector pay policy. You, our members, will decide if this offer meets your expectations.  

This offer applies to staff employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions, this includes those working on staff bank contracts. If accepted all staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions would receive the increase.

Yes, if the offer is accepted you will be entitled to back pay up to the time you left employment. You should speak to your payroll department once the outcome of the consultation has been confirmed. If you have retired this may impact your pension and a mechanism will be put in place to inform SPPA.

Yes, all staff employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions will receive the pay offer if it is accepted. This means that if you are on full pay or half pay during your maternity leave, the amount you receive will increase proportionally in line with the pay offer. However, this has no effect on the Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). If you are in a period of maternity leave in which you are only eligible to receive SMP, these payments will not increase. 

Your pay is determined by your employer and not by the Scottish government. The Scottish government’s pay offer relates to staff working for NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. However, many independent health and social care employers use NHS pay as a benchmark in setting pay. Increases in NHS pay often lead to increases in pay in other parts of the health and care sector.

The Scottish government must invest in nursing, not just in the NHS, but all services and settings where nursing care is delivered. The RCN has always called for pay parity between the NHS and every other health and social care setting. We continue to support members employed in independent health and social care settings to seek appropriate recognition in their pay and working conditions in respect of the complex, expert care they deliver.

To ensure you receive information and updates that matter to you, it’s important we know where you work. Visit MyRCN to make sure your details are correct.  

We have raised this with the Scottish government as we are aware that the payment of a lump sum for the backdated element could have an impact on members who are in receipt of some means tested benefits. We are pushing Scottish government and employers to set up a system to members can opt to have their back pay paid in instalments. 

Both UK government and Welsh government have announced that they accept the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation for a 5.5% increase for NHS staff. In addition to the increase, the PRB recommendations include adding intermediate pay points at Agenda for Change Bands 8a and above.

This is a pay award and not an offer, meaning that members working across all bands will receive the pay increase in their pay packets later this year

RCN members in England are being consulted on whether or not they accept the pay award. The consultation closes at midday on 16 September.

RCN Wales Board and the RCN Trade Union Committee are considering the award in detail and decide on the next steps for members. 

The RCN expects the 5.5% Agenda for Change pay award announced in England will be implemented in full in Northern Ireland. We await confirmation from the Northern Ireland Department of Health as clarity is required regarding the funding of the award in Northern Ireland. 

No. Only RCN members who are currently employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions are eligible to vote on the 2024-25 pay offer. Make sure your details are up to date on your RCN record to make sure your vote is counted.

We believe that general practice nursing staff should have, as a minimum, equal terms and conditions to colleagues employed in the NHS.  A small number of general practice staff are directly employed in the NHS on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. If that includes you, then you are eligible to vote in this consultation.

The majority of nursing staff working in general practice in Scotland are employed by their practice and therefore their pay is within the remit of the GP contract. Negotiations around the GP contract funding uplift for 2024/25 are taking place between the Scottish government and the British Medical Association. The RCN has made clear that we expect the uplift for nursing salaries within general practice to be in line with Agenda for Change. 

RCN student members who are directly employed on NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions by an NHS Scotland organisation, for example, if you are employed as a healthcare support worker, are eligible to take part in this consultation. Please make sure your employment details are correct on MyRCN.

Provided you are an RCN member and employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions, you are eligible to take part in this consultation.

Yes, provided you are an RCN member and employed by NHS Scotland on Agenda for Change terms and conditions, you are eligible to take part in this consultation.

You are the RCN and if you want to be a part of nursing activism and lead on the issues that matter most to you, you can find out more about activism and organising, our forums and networks and how to become an RCN rep.

If you want to know more about our campaigning activity, become a campaign supporter.

Have your say in just a few steps on our website. You’ll be able to review the award and choose to ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ it.

You can only take part in the ballot if the RCN can confirm that you work in Scotland and your workplace and employer mean you are employed in the NHS on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. Please ensure your RCN membership details, including employer and place of work, are up to date and encourage colleagues to do the same. You can do this at MyRCN. 

The Scottish government has announced a 5.5% pay offer for NHS Scotland staff employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. As your union we campaign for Fair Pay for Nursing and RCN members will always have the chance to vote on your pay. Check we have the correct details for you, so you can have your say at MyRCN.

We want every eligible RCN member to vote in the consultation. Each eligible member has one vote.

Your vote is secured with your member details, and can only be cast when logged in. If you vote multiple times, only your last vote will be counted. 

If you vote more than once during the consultation, only your final vote will be counted. Your vote is secured with your member details, and can only be cast when logged in. Every eligible member will have one vote in the final count.

Please log in to MyRCN to cast your vote. During periods of high traffic, it can be more difficult to log into the website. If you have issues accessing our website, please wait a few minutes and try again.

If you’re still having trouble, complete our form or call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100. Please include your membership number in your email and have it ready to read out if you call.

You can find out more about RCN membership and how to get in touch on our membership FAQs.  

If the majority of members who vote in the consultation indicate that the offer should be accepted, RCN Scotland will confirm to the Scottish government the RCN’s position. The RCN will seek implementation of the offer as soon as possible.

If the majority of RCN members vote who vote in the consultation indicate that the offer should be rejected, RCN Scotland will inform Scottish government of the outcome of our ballot and your elected members on RCN Scotland Board, RCN Trade Union Committee and RCN Council will consider the next steps. If rejected there is no guarantee that the current offer will be available in the future. If no improved offer is received from Scottish government all options would be considered including asking members to vote and participate in Industrial action.

The RCN and other health trade unions will meet under the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee to confirm the results of their consultations with their members and confirm the outcomes to the Scottish government.  If the offer is accepted by the majority the timeline for implementation will be confirmed at this point. It is expected that the pay increase will be applied for October salaries with the backdated element (to 1 April 2024) paid as soon as possible.

No, this is not a vote on industrial action.

This is a consultation on the NHS pay offer in Scotland for 2024-25.  You can vote to accept or reject this offer. Once members have had their say, your elected representatives will consider next steps.