NHS Scotland strikes: Scottish Government makes 'best and final' pay deal

Health bosses have made a "best and final offer" to NHS staff in a bid to avoid strike action.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said the deal - worth £515m in 2022-23 - underlines the Scottish Government's commitment to "supporting our fantastic NHS staff".

The offer is a Scottish record and is described by the Scottish Government as "the best in the UK".

The lowest paid staff are offered an 11.3 per cent uplift against an average for all staff of 7.5 per cent. A review into reducing the working week to 36 hours is included.

Yousaf said: "We are making this offer at a time of extraordinary financial challenges to the Scottish Government. We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard-working staff and to avoid industrial action in what is already going to be an incredibly challenging winter."

The package includes a pay rise of 8.7 per cent to newly-qualified nurses (£2,205), with uplifts of between £2,450 and £2,751 for more experienced staff, backdated to April.

The Royal College of Nursing, Unite, GMB union and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have also backed strike action amidst pay disputes.

Ambulance staff in the Unite union has suspended work-to-rule action tomorrow and will put the deal to members in a ballot.