NURSES BETTER OFF IN SCOTLAND COMPARED TO REST OF UK
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie has hailed the SNP Government’s salary boost for 21,694 hardworking staff in NHS Lothian.
 
Over 148,000 NHS Scotland staff will be offered a minimum 9% pay rise over the next three years - the highest NHS pay uplift being offered in the whole of the UK.
 
This follows the First Minister’s announcement that NHS Agenda for Change employees would receive a 3% pay increase in next month’s pay packet and backdated to the beginning of the year.
 
Relative to staff in England, NHS Scotland nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and paramedics, amongst others, will receive a minimum cumulative uplift of 9%, and those earning £80,000 and over will receive a flat rate increase of £1,600 a year. The changes will be agreed between NHS employers, unions and the Scottish Government by the end of the year.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said:
 
“This is an important SNP Government investment in the 21,694 NHS staff who care for us day in day out in NHS Lothian.  
 
“Currently, Advanced Nurse Practitioners in Scotland are getting paid £430 more a year than those in England, and if they secured a job with a band 7 salary last year, they’d see their salary grow by over £8,800 over the next three years.
 
“Not only is the SNP Government bringing NHS Scotland staffing to historically high levels – we are making sure that our healthcare professionals are getting the best pay deal in the whole of the UK and making our NHS a more attractive place to work.
 
“We will always stand up for what’s best for Midlothian and East Lothian's  health services and the hard-working staff who go to incredible efforts on our behalf.”

Colin Beattie MSP has lent his support to help improve the lives of people in Scotland living with terminal illness. 
Meeting with representatives from Marie Curie, the terminal illness charity recently, Colin was interested to hear about efforts to encourage people to think about their wishes for the end of their life and discuss preferences with loved ones. The charity has published a free information resource to support conversations called ‘You Matter’, available to download from mariecurie.org.uk/youmatter
Marie Curie believes that starting with a simple conversation over cake and a cuppa can help tackle the stigma that exists around dying, death and bereavement. Coinciding with their fundraising campaign Blooming Great Tea Party this month Marie Curie is encouraging people to ask friends, colleagues and family round for a tea party, bake sale or ‘Bake off’ style competition. Every donation raised at events help Marie Curie provide vital care and support to people living with terminal illness.  
Last year there were over 600 Blooming Great Tea Party events in Scotland raising over £86,000, equating to over 4,300 hours of Marie Curie Nursing care.
Colin Beattie MSP said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Marie Curie and discuss the tremendous work they do helping those with terminal illnesses.
“People suffering at the end of their lives deserve the highest quality of care, and I thank everyone at Marie Curie for ensuring that such sufferers and their families are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity.”
Susan Lowes, Marie Curie Policy & Public Affairs Manager Scotland said: “Sadly one in four people in Scotland aren’t getting the care they need at the end of their lives. By encouraging people to start with a simple conversation about their wishes we hope that we can empower everyone to play their part in improving end of life care. There’s only one chance to get this right at the end of someone’s life, and everyone matters in making that a reality.”
To find out more about Blooming Great Tea Party and receive your free fundraising pack, call 0800 716 146 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty
Free Marie Curie Support and Information is available for anyone with questions about terminal illness. Contact 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support 

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance. Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
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