NHS Scotland medical and dental staff will receive a pay rise of just under three per cent, it has been announced.

The award of 2.8% will be backdated to 1 April this year and applies to staff including doctors and dentists – but not those under the Agenda for Change pay scale, including nurses.

Doctors’ leaders said it was a “step in the right direction” but added there had been real-term pay cuts of up to 30% over many years, while workloads have become more demanding.

Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland, said: “It does to some extent acknowledge the effort of doctors who have led the response to covid-19.

“But there’s a long way to go to reverse the negative impact of over a decade of previous pay announcements.”

He said the pay award recognised the of the huge contribution doctors make and it was hoped it was the start of a “more positive trend”.

“It represents one of many steps on the long road to restoring morale and improving doctors’ working lives which include the need for effective recruitment and retention, workforce planning and measures to improve NHS culture and doctors’ welfare,” he said.

“We need a concerted effort across all those issues in order to demonstrate that doctors are truly valued, so that they want to train and stay in Scotland and care for its population.”

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said it demonstrated the government “fully value” the medical and dental workforce and the important contribution they make.

She said: “It’s crucial that we continue to not only recruit and build our future NHS workforce, but also retain expertise within NHS Scotland.

“This announcement means that our senior medical staff will continue to be the best paid in the UK.

“This will help to ensure that NHS Scotland remains an attractive employment option for medical and dental staff.”

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