How much are NHS Scotland staff worth? A thread.

Last week, I contacted @RCNScot, @ScotGovFM, @JeaneF1MSP and @FionaCMcQueen regarding the deployment of 3rd year Scottish nursing students into the nursing workforce to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic. 1/

As a vocal advocate of nursing student pay (and welfare) during my own time as a student, I was delighted to see that our 3rd year student body who were “opting-in” will be remunerated at Band 4 level pay (£22700). And they will also keep their annual student bursary of £8100. 2/

This gives 3rd year student nurses a fantastic temporary salary of £30800. However, the bursary awarded is exempt from tax and not included as earnings when calculating tax on earnings over the personal allowance, essentially giving a revised allowance of £20600 (£12500+£8100).3/

This gives students an average take home monthly pay of approximately £2225, without the addition of any unsocial hours worked. To earn that take-home pay in Scotland with a standard tax code, your salary equivalent would need to be approximately £37000. 4/

If you go into hospital tomorrow and are looked after by a Band 5 nurse with 7+ years of experience, they will currently receive a salary of £31649. They will require a pay rise of over 17% to match the pay currently on offer to our student body. 5/

Nurses with less experience than this will need a bigger increase to match this pay. Personally, I would need to see a salary increase of 38% to match the deal on offer to students. I would be almost £500 a month better off without my registration and experience. 6/

At present, students working as Band 4 support workers, do so alongside other invaluable and experienced healthcare support workers, who are mostly Band 2 or Band 3 in their role. They can see between £600-£850 less in their pay packets by comparison. 7/

Our nearly-qualified students will be coming in and working hard over the coming months and will also be required to finish their theory work in this time. I will argue that their remuneration is fair for the pressure they will be under and the expectations laid upon them. 8/

But what happens after this? They will qualify with the continued support from their university and their workplace mentors, and they will register with the @NMCnews. They will then take an equivalent pay cut of nearly £12000 as they are promoted to their Band 5 position. 9/

It should be a national scandal to allow those students who will have worked so hard during this pandemic to be rewarded in such a manner. Also, it should be a scandal that qualified and experienced staff who risk their lives in this pandemic do so with a much lesser salary. 10/

In September/October this year, @RCNScot will prepare to enter negotiations with @Scotgov to revise a new (?substantial) Agenda for Change pay deal for the following year. @ScotGovFM @NicolaSturgeon – remember what you think we are all worth in this moment. 11/

I expect @RCNScot - and other unions - will negotiate hard on the terms of a new pay deal. I hope any new pay deal going forward will also include a retrospective recompense for the disparity of wages across the agenda for change spectrum during this time. 12/

It is absolutely just and correct that those coming into the workforce early to help are fairly compensated for the severe risk they are taking for themselves and their families. However, we should also consider those who were already in the workforce to begin with. End. 13/13