SNP has struck a deal with trade unions to cut the working week further to just 36 hours, without loss of pay, by April 2026 – PA IMAGES / ALAMY A bid to improve the “work-life balance” of NHS staff by cutting their hours is costing Scotland’s crisis-hit health service more than £3 million a month. New figures reveal that the 30-minute reduction to the working week, introduced by the SNP government in April, has left the taxpayer to pick up a bill of £12.5 million in under four months in overtime payments. The cash has been paid in thousands of cases due to “service pressures, safety or wellbeing issues”, which meant it was not possible to give staff the promised reduction to 37 hours – so staff are entitled to extra cash instead.
This deal, which is being hailed as a major victory for workers, has been met with mixed reactions. Some unions have welcomed the move, arguing that it will improve worker wellbeing and productivity. Others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on businesses and the economy.
This statement reflects a significant concern about the new policy change that has been implemented by the UK government. The policy change requires all NHS staff to clock off and disconnect from work for 30 minutes every Friday. This policy change has been met with mixed reactions, with some individuals expressing support, while others are concerned about its implementation.
SNP has been accused of ‘inept mismanagement’ of the NHS – GEORGE CLARK/ISTOCK The devolved government this month outlined £500 million of public spending cuts, including to the health service, to help plug a near £1 billion budget black hole. Meanwhile, a series of NHS building projects, including new hospitals and treatment centres which it had been hoped would finally bring down waiting times, have been shelved to save cash. NHS Lothian, Scotland’s second largest health board, paid out £3.7 million due to the reduced working week between May and July, an investment that delivers no direct benefit to patients.
The NHS in Scotland is facing a significant financial challenge, with hospitals struggling to cope with rising costs and a growing backlog of patients. This financial strain is impacting the health service’s ability to provide timely and effective care. The Scottish government has acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish government has pledged to address these challenges through a range of measures, including increased funding for the NHS, investment in new technologies, and streamlining administrative processes.
Despite the pressure, the Scottish Government announced in March that it would cut working hours from the following month, claiming this would ensure “NHS Scotland is a leader in flexible and family-friendly working practices.” John Swinney, the First Minister, has confirmed his pledge towards 36-hour working week by 2026 – ALAMY John Swinney, the First Minister, confirmed this month that his government would “progress towards the 36-hour working week for Agenda for Change staff”, which includes nearly 170,000 workers. The deal does not include doctors, dentists and some very senior managers, who negotiate pay and conditions separately. Health boards have been told changes to hours should be made with staff “by mutual agreement” and support “the aim of an effective work-life balance and flexibility within the working week”.
* The Scottish NHS is facing a crisis in waiting times. * The Scottish Conservative Party (Scottish Tories) blames the SNP government for the crisis. * Sandesh Gulhane, a health spokesman for the Scottish Tories, argues that the SNP government has failed to deliver on its promises and created a crisis in waiting times.
This is a significant increase in pay for these workers, but it is also a controversial one. The deal is being criticized for its lack of transparency and its potential to create a two-tier system within the NHS. Critics argue that the pay increase is a reward for high earners, rather than a genuine attempt to address the workforce shortage.
