THE Tory government is under heavy pressure to increase its measly NHS pay offer after it was confirmed that Scotland’s health workers will receive a rise of at least 4 per cent.

Trade union leaders said that the Tories, who recommended just a 1 per cent pay rise for England’s NHS workers, should now be shamed into following Scotland’s lead at the very least.

The 14 NHS unions, representing 1.3 million workers, have now written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging him and his officials to meet them and find a way forward.

The SNP’s pay offer, revealed on Wednesday night, still falls below health unions’ demands for pay increases of up to 12 per cent for front-line staff to make up for years of cuts.

It was announced by the SNP in Holyrood just hours before the official launch of the Scottish Parliament election campaign. 

The offer, backdated to December 2020, would raise annual salaries below £25,000 by more than £1,000.

But Unison has stated that a pay rise of at least £2,000 is crucial to adequately retain, reward and recruit NHS staff. 

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon condemned the “miserly” pay deal being offered to NHS workers south of the border, insisting that her party will “build a country fit for the heroes” of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Scottish government was praised for its offer, but Scottish Labour questioned why other front-line staff, including social care workers, had been “forgotten.”

Unison head of health Sara Gorton said: “This shows that where there’s a political will, there’s most definitely a way.

“Valuing health staff and investing in the NHS is a political choice. One that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are choosing not to make.

“The Westminster government should learn from the approach being adopted north of the border on NHS pay and be shamed into following the Scottish example.”

The NHS pay review body is expected to respond to the Tories’ suggested pay offer in May, more than a month after the pay rise is due. 

The offer would represent a real-terms pay cut in spite of health workers’ efforts during the pandemic. 

In their letter to the PM, the NHS unions say: “When NHS staff in England contrast the Scottish offer with what you have proposed for them, they will feel increasingly bewildered by how you are choosing to treat them.”

The letter accuses the government of imposing “serious delays” on the process.

“The majority of people, irrespective of their political affiliation, believe the 1 per cent NHS pay proposal to be unfair,” it adds.

“As representatives of 1.3 million NHS staff, we urge you to reconsider your proposals urgently.”

The unions also launched a campaign urging people to show their appreciation for NHS workers with bright, hand-finished displays on April 1.

They hope that this will show the public’s strength of feeling on the day that all NHS staff should have received a wage increase, as well as showing gratitude for health workers’ efforts throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

Royal College of Nursing head Dame Donna Kinnair said of the poster campaign: “Nursing staff are disgusted with the government’s 1 per cent pay proposal. The public is with us. The government needs to listen.”

Royal College Of Midwives leader Gill Walton added: “The public are with NHS staff and their continued support is much appreciated.

“NHS staff have battled the pandemic in unbelievably tough conditions. 

“They just want a decent pay rise. Scotland’s proved a significant, backdated offer is affordable. All the UK’s NHS workers deserve a proper wage increase.”

The Department of Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.