Senior medics and dentists across Scotland will receive an above-inflation pay increase at the end of September after the Scottish Government agreed to implement recommendations from an independent pay review body.
Consultants, GPs, Specialty, Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors, and dentists will receive a 3.5% pay rise for 2026-27. Salaried community and public dental workers will receive a 3.75% uplift, in recognition of the particular challenges facing those services.
The increases will affect more than 10,000 NHS employees, be backdated to 1 April 2026 and are expected to begin appearing in salaries by the end of September.
Health Secretary Angela Constance set out the awards in a letter to the British Medical Association, confirming that the Scottish Government has accepted in full the recommended uplifts from the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).
Ms Constance said: “I’m grateful to all consultants, GPs, SAS doctors and dentists for the invaluable contribution they make to the people of Scotland in delivering safe, effective and high-quality care across our communities.
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“It is, therefore, right that we recognise this by accepting the independent findings of the DDRB to deliver an equitable and affordable pay deal – one that is in line with other public sector pay awards for 2026-27.
“We remain committed to a fair, evidence-based and independent approach to pay awards and, in accepting the DDRB recommendations in full, we are supporting recruitment and retention. This will help to ensure that NHS Scotland remains an attractive place to work, while balancing the need for financial sustainability across the public sector.”
The latest recommendation follows significant investment in consultants’ pay in recent years. Consultants received a 6% increase in 2023-24, followed by a 10.5% rise in 2024-25 and a further 4% uplift in 2025-26.
