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Health board executives at two struggling NHS organizations have had their proposed 10% salary increases put on hold following backlash from unions. The planned pay rises, intended to compensate the chiefs involved in leading new regional healthcare planning initiatives, have sparked controversy due to concerns over fairness, especially among frontline NHS workers who are often expected to take on extra duties without additional remuneration.
In response to the criticism, Scotland’s Health Secretary Neil Gray announced the suspension of these temporary pay supplements and has called for a comprehensive assessment of the additional responsibilities assigned to the executives. Gray emphasized the need for an equitable pay structure across the NHS, stating, “We have worked hard to ensure an equitable approach to pay across the NHS. That is why I have asked health boards to suspend an additional pay supplement – pending full evaluation of these roles.” He also insisted that this review must be conducted with full union involvement to ensure transparency and fairness.
This pay dispute comes as part of a broader Scottish government initiative aimed at improving collaboration between the country’s 14 health boards. To address longstanding challenges such as waiting times and treatment delays, the boards have been organized into two subnational planning and delivery committees (SPDCs), representing the west and east regions respectively. The chief executives and chairs of NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are tasked with overseeing this integration effort. Despite suspending the extra pay, both Prof Caroline Hiscox of NHS Lothian and Prof Jann Gardner of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will continue to lead the SPDC projects while the evaluation takes place.
Union representatives have expressed strong criticism regarding both the initial decision to grant the pay rises and the government’s handling of the subsequent fallout. Matt McLaughlin, head of health at Unison, described the suspension as “an embarrassing climb down” for Neil Gray, highlighting ongoing concerns over decision-making transparency and trust. He suggested that Gray must either reorganize the leadership involved in the subnational planning or consider pausing the initiative until after the upcoming election to allow a new government to review the approach. Meanwhile, Colin Poolman from RCN Scotland supported the suspension, calling it “absolutely the right thing to do” and recommended that future plans clarify leadership roles and implications for the wider healthcare workforce
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