Across Scotland, nursing and midwifery unions have opened consultations with their members regarding a new NHS pay offer that would cover the years 2025 to 2027. This offer could significantly impact the take-home pay and working conditions of healthcare workers, especially at a time when many are feeling the pressure of rising living costs and a stretched health system.
As a nurse or midwife, knowing the details of this offer and understanding what your union is saying will help you make an informed decision. So let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to digest.
What’s in the New NHS Pay Offer?
The proposed pay deal from the Scottish Government is valued at more than £700 million. It was reached following direct negotiations between health trade unions, NHS employers, and the government. Here’s what it includes:
- A 4.25% pay increase for the year 2025–2026
- A 3.75% increase for 2026–2027
- A total of 8.16% uplift over two years
- An inflation protection clause, which is meant to make sure your pay keeps pace with the cost of living over time
This inflation guarantee is a key part of the offer, especially given how unpredictable the economy has been in recent years. It means your pay won’t just increase—it will also retain its actual value in real-life spending power.
What Are the Unions Saying?
Each union is handling the consultation process in slightly different ways. Here’s a look at how the major unions are responding to the offer and how they’re involving their members in the decision-making process.
Unison Scotland
Unison has already begun its member consultation and is recommending that members accept the deal. According to Matt McLaughlin, who co-leads Unison’s health division, this is the best deal that can realistically be achieved given the current financial pressures across the country.
Unison is encouraging all eligible members to vote in the consultative ballot, reminding everyone that each vote plays a role in determining the outcome.
Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
The RCM has taken a neutral stance and opened up its consultation without a formal recommendation. The union is simply asking its members to submit their views by May 7, 2025.
Emma Currer, RCM’s national officer, highlighted that the collective voice of members will help shape the final response. She emphasized the importance of every midwife, maternity support worker, and student midwife taking the time to have their say.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
The RCN is preparing to begin its consultation process from April 23 to May 14, 2025. Unlike Unison, the RCN is leaving the decision entirely in the hands of its members.
Julie Lambeth, Chair of the RCN Scotland Board, has urged nurses to take time to read through the details of the pay offer, understand what it means for them personally, and make sure to participate in the vote. The union believes this is a decision best made collectively through full member participation.
What About Nurses in Other Parts of the UK?
While Scotland is currently in the process of reviewing and voting on this offer, the rest of the UK is still waiting. NHS staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland haven’t received a new deal just yet. However, the NHS Pay Review Body submitted its recommendations for 2025–26 to the government last week.
Those recommendations have not yet been made public, so we’ll need to wait a bit longer to see what pay increases—if any—will be put forward for healthcare staff in those regions.
Why This Matters
As a nurse myself, I understand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by the numbers and negotiations. But at the heart of this pay offer are some big questions:
Will it make life easier for us as healthcare workers? Will it reflect the dedication, effort, and emotional toll our work requires every single day? And does it provide a real step forward—not just a temporary fix?
For those working in Scotland, this consultation period is a time to reflect and make your voice count. Whether you’re for or against the offer, participating in the vote ensures that the final decision truly reflects the wishes of frontline workers—not just union leaders or policymakers.
If you’re not based in Scotland, this is still worth keeping an eye on. Pay decisions in one part of the UK often influence what happens in others. So even if you’re waiting on England, Wales, or Northern Ireland updates, the outcome of this Scottish deal could set the tone for what’s to come
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