Boris Johnson under pressure to increase NHS pay after Scotland proposes 4% increase

‘This shows where there’s a political will there’s most definitely a way,’ says Unison

Boris Johnson is facing pressure to increase a proposed pay rise for NHS staff, after health workers in Scotland have been told their wages would be upped by 4 per cent.

Medics in England are faced with the prospect of just a 1 per cent pay rise in line with the UK government’s submission to the NHS pay review body.

However, in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon’s government has offered more than 154,000 NHS staff in pay bands one to seven a 4 per cent pay rise backdated to December.

Union leaders and opposition politicians have said the Westminster government should now be “shamed” into following the Scottish example.

Unison’s head of health Sara Gorton said: “This shows where there’s a political will there’s most definitely a way. Valuing health staff and investing in the NHS is a political choice. One that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are choosing not to make.”

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The union official added: “After a long and difficult year, a decent pay rise for NHS staff should be a simple decision to make and popular with the public.”

“The Westminster government should learn from the approach being adopted north of the border on NHS pay and be shamed into following the Scottish example.”

Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood praised the SNP administration for making a more generous pay offer than the Westminster government.

“When your health service and the exhausted workers that have kept everything going over an incredibly difficult year are valued by their government, this is what happens,” said the Welsh Assembly member. “Good work Scottish government.”

The Scottish TUC welcomed the “significant shift” in the Scottish government’s position on NHS pay. “Health unions drive a hard bargain because health workers do a hard shift.”

Nicola Sturgeon claps NHS and care workers (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

UK ministers have argued that 1 per cent is all that can be afforded in England due to the pandemic, as other public sector workers face a pay freeze.

Challenged on Sky News on why Ms Sturgeon’s government had been able to be more generous, Tory minister Vicky Ford said: “We do want to make sure that even at this very challenging time for the whole economy that there is a pay rise for the NHS staff.”

Scotland’s 4 per cent pay rise plan will include paramedics, nurses, as well as support staff and porters, and is in addition to a £500 payment to health and social care workers for their efforts throughout the pandemic.

Health union leaders in Scotland said the pay offer, announced on the eve of the Holyrood election campaign, would now be discussed by members.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the unique value of the nursing profession,” said the Royal College of Nursing Scotland’s director Susan Aitkenhead. “Our members will consider the Scottish government’s offer over the coming weeks.”

Ms Sturgeon said “our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1 per cent is not enough”. A spokesperson for her government claimed the deal would be the “most generous NHS pay uplift anywhere in the UK” if accepted.