NHS Scotland AfC pay and redundancy calculator 2026 | Expert Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the NHS Scotland Agenda for Change pay award for 2025–26 and 2026–27?

  The NHS Scotland AfC two-year settlement delivers 4.25% in 2025–26 (effective 4.40% after the inflation guarantee adjusted for confirmed CPI of 3.4%) and 3.75% in 2026–27 — an 8.16% cumulative uplift. The deal is backed by £701 million of Scottish Government investment and covers approximately 170,000 NHS Scotland staff including nurses, midwives, paramedics and allied health professionals.

• What is the NHS Scotland AfC inflation guarantee and how does it work?

  The NHS Scotland AfC settlement includes a unique 'real-terms plus' inflation guarantee: each year's pay increase must exceed average CPI inflation by at least 1 percentage point. For 2025–26, CPI was confirmed at 3.4%, meaning the guarantee threshold was 4.4% — above the base 4.25%, so the effective 2025–26 rate was 4.40%. In 2026–27, if CPI exceeds 2.75%, the base 3.75% uplift automatically increases to match CPI plus 1pp.

• How is redundancy pay calculated for NHS Scotland AfC staff?

  NHS Scotland AfC staff are entitled to the NHS enhanced redundancy scheme under Section 16 of the AfC Handbook: 1 month's pay per year of NHS reckonable service, up to a maximum of 24 months' pay, with annual salary capped at £80,000 for calculation purposes. A minimum of 2 years' NHS continuous service is required. The statutory minimum under ERA 1996 s.162 also applies (½/1/1½ weeks' pay per year by age band, weekly pay capped at £700 as of 2026, max 20 qualifying years).

• How many days annual leave do NHS Scotland AfC staff receive?

  NHS Scotland AfC staff receive 27 days' annual leave on appointment, rising to 29 days after 5 years' NHS service and 33 days after 10 years' service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays. The entitlement exceeds the Working Time Regulations 1998 statutory minimum of 28 days. From 1 April 2026, the standard AfC working week in Scotland reduced from 37 to 36 hours, which affects how annual leave is calculated in hours.

• What notice period applies to NHS Scotland Agenda for Change employees?

  Under the AfC Handbook, employees must give a minimum of 4 weeks' notice. Employers must give the greater of the statutory minimum under ERA 1996 s.86 (1 week per complete year of service, min 1 week, max 12 weeks) or 4 weeks. Band 8–9 staff typically have a 3-month contractual notice period for both employee and employer — check your individual contract. Pay in lieu of notice (PILON) may be offered instead of working the notice period.

• Which pension scheme covers NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff?

  NHS Scotland AfC staff are enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme 2015, a defined benefit (career average revalued earnings) scheme. Employee contributions are tiered by pensionable pay: 5.2% (up to £13,259), 6.5% (£13,260–£26,831), 8.3% (£26,832–£111,376), or 12.5% (above £111,376). The employer contribution rate is 23.7%. As a defined benefit scheme, your actual pension income at retirement is based on pensionable service and career average salary, not solely on contributions made.

• Does the NHS Scotland AfC settlement reduce the working week?

  Yes. The NHS Scotland AfC settlement includes a progressive reduction in the standard full-time working week. From 1 April 2024 the week reduced from 37.5 to 37 hours. From 1 April 2026 (within the current settlement period) the standard working week reduces further from 37 to 36 hours. This means part-time staff pro-rata calculations, hourly rates, and annual leave in hours are all affected from April 2026.

• What is the Band 5 salary for NHS Scotland in 2026–27?

  Under the NHS Scotland AfC 2026–27 pay scales, Band 5 salaries (full-time equivalent, 36-hour week) are: Point 1 (0–2 years' service) £34,494/year; Point 2 (2–4 years) £36,857/year; Point 3 (4+ years) £42,977/year. These represent a 3.75% uplift on the 2025–26 rates (£33,247, £35,525, and £41,424 respectively) under the two-year settlement.