Underappreciated NHS nurses in Scotland will soon have an opportunity to request a review of their role, which could see their annual pay rise by more than £7,000.

Band 5 nursing staff who believe they are working at a higher clinical level will be able to apply to have their pay banding re-evaluated from the 17th of June.

Successful applicants will see their role upgraded to Agenda for Change Band 6 with a rise in pay that could be backdated to the 1st of April 2023.

All current Band 5 nurses are being urged by the Royal College of Nurses Scotland to grasp the opportunity to ensure their contribution and expertise are recognised.

Director Colin Poolman said the expanding responsibilities taken on by nursing staff is yet to be seen in their pay and banding:

“Nursing is a safety critical profession, and it is crucial that the profession receives clear recognition and reward to address the challenges of recruitment and retention. 

“The role and demands on nursing staff have grown significantly but this hasn’t been reflected in their ability to progress through the pay bands.”

The review of Band 5 nursing roles comes as the final element of the commitment made by then-health secretary Humza Yousaf during the 2023-24 pay deal to modernise Scotland’s NHS pay system Agenda for Change.

Protected learning time and a reduction in the working week have been in place since the start of April.

First step in recognising nurses

A total of 38.4% of the nursing workforce is employed at Band 5, compared to 11.6% of midwives and 13.8% of allied health professionals like physiotherapists and paramedics.

Those employed at the first pay point of Band 5 receive an annual salary of around £30,229 a year, whilst those at Band 6 receive a minimum of £37,831.

The Royal College of Nurses’ Mr Poolman said the discrepancy shows the lack of recognition of the work of nurses:

“The largest proportion of the nursing workforce, almost 40%, is employed at Band 5. This is the entry level for registered professionals and demonstrates that nursing knowledge, skills and experience are being undervalued.  

“The commitment to review Band 5 nursing roles is set to address this and we are anticipating employers will be writing to Band 5 nurses in NHS Scotland setting out the process and inviting them to have their role reviewed in the coming weeks.”

This is just the ‘first step’ toward full recognition of nurses, according to the union which is calling for automatic pay progression from band 5 to 6 for all NHS nurses.

What to expect from the review process

The Scottish government, employers and health trade unions have worked together to develop an online platform the Band 5 nursing role review application process.

Each nurse will need the support of their line manager, and then to complete a questionnaire with a focus on the skills and knowledge required for their role, responsibilities and working environment. 

This will then be checked by the local human resources team, before being considered by a job evaluation panel made up of two management and two staff side representatives.

Successful applicants will have their new pay band effective from the date they undertook additional responsibilities, or the 1st of April 2023 at the earliest.

Unsuccessful applicants will also have a chance to appeal the decision.

Read more: RCN Scotland: Urgent change needed for nurses; 

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