Humza Yousaf has been told nurses are being lured to “profiteering” agencies because of his failure to restart pay negotiations. Labour MSP Alex Rowley has called on the Health Secretary to get civil servants back to the table and resolve the dispute.
He has also warned private agencies, which cost far more to the NHS than directly employed nursing staff, are attempting to capitalise on the stalemate by offering to pay much higher wages. One advert for agency staff boasts they “pay nurses the rates they deserve”, while others offer up to £650 per shift.
Last month, trade union members voted to reject a five per cent pay offer for nursing staff, saying it was not enough with the rise in inflation. In a letter to Yousaf, Rowley wrote: “I heard from trade unions this week that no meetings have yet been set up to advance the talks and to put a fairer offer on the table for discussion and negotiation.
