It comes as nursing staff across the UK vote on industrial action.
The Scottish Government has increased its NHS pay offer to £2,205 after previously pledging a “significantly improved” deal.
Earlier this year, they offered a 5% pay award across the board, but unions unanimously rejected this.
The deal is now more similar to the recent pay award in England, with the percentage increase varying between pay bands. For the average registered nurse, the pay offer equates to around a 6% increase – still well below the current rate of inflation.
It comes as nursing staff across the UK vote on industrial action.
If agreed, the pay uplift, which amounts to almost half a billion pounds and would mean the pay of the average Band 5 nurse would rise to £35,120.
An exceptionally challenging year.
Announcing the offer, Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am grateful to trade union colleagues and NHS employers for constructive discussions on pay.
“This has been another exceptionally challenging year for our health service, and we have a difficult winter ahead, but I am pleased that we are able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare and support staff with this pay offer.
“We owe NHS staff a debt of gratitude for leading us through the greatest public health crisis in recent history.
“This improved pay offer – which is the largest of its kind since devolution – reflects their hard work and will go a long way to help them through the cost of living crisis. We are rightly focussing the biggest increases for those who are the lowest paid, as we know the cost crisis is impacting them disproportionately.”
