An SNP Minister has quit over Government plans to make it easier for people to change their legally-recognised gender.
08.10.2022 - 18:11 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Angry nurses have warned the Scottish Government that more people will continue to leave the profession unless they are offered a fair pay rise.
Dozens of members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) held a protest outside the SNP conference in Aberdeen where they spoke briefly with Humza Yousaf.
The RCN is balloting for strike action in Scotland after rejecting a pay offer of five per cent.
Yousaf told nurses gathered outside the conference hall that he would be meeting with RCN leaders next week to offer a new pay deal.
Zoe James, a mental health nurse from Aberdeen, was among those to speak to the health secretary.
She told the Record: "We have been undervalued and underpaid - whether that is pay freezes or below inflation wage rises for 12 years.
"It has got to the stage where I can't afford to live on my salary any longer.
"I'm 24 years qualified. I've got a degree. I'm qualified in various therapies.
"And I'm stuck. Our pay scales to do not reflect our skills and expertise.
"We are expected to take on more and more responsibilities. We are doing many roles that were traditionally considered medical staff roles.
"There is a decrease in people entering the profession. I know many newly qualified people who have chosen to take on other roles, like occupational health therapy.
"They're not staying in the profession. There are people leaving in their droves."
Speaking to reporters, Yousaf said: "I'm pleased to meet with those who come out to demonstrate. They're obviously very angry, upset and exhausted because of the pressures they are under.
"I meet with NHS staff day in and day out in this job. They are rightly asking for a significantly improved offer in pay.
"We do have a meeting set up with the trade unions next week and I
An SNP Minister has quit over Government plans to make it easier for people to change their legally-recognised gender.
The family of a Scottish man jailed in Iraq over a £20,000 debt to a Qatar bank have staged a protest outside of Holyrood demanding action from the Government to bring him home.
DVLA rules are in place to keep drivers safe on the road and among them are requirements ensuring all motorists can see properly behind the wheel.
Humza Yousaf has been branded the "worst health secretary since devolution" by Labour in a row over how prepared the NHS is for winter.
Getting started in the entertainment industry is difficult. Becoming successful in that same industry — even more so.
Heinz has announced a new partnership with Morrisons that will see them offer thousands of free meals to help those affected by the cost of living crisis.
Nicola Sturgeon has demanded Rishi Sunak call an immediate general election after he won the latest Conservative leadership contest.
The SNP has made a renewed demand for a general election after Rishi Sunak was today crowned the latest leader of the Conservative party.
Firefighters say they have been left with “no choice” as they prepare to take their fight pay rise fight to the Scottish Parliament this week.
Civil servants have been given top roles on Scotland’s troubled Covid-19 Public Inquiry - despite claims the probe is “independent”.
Scots campaigners have slammed the SNP after plans to introduce abortion clinic buffer zones were passed in England and Wales.
With Halloween approaching, some will be picking out the pumpkins which they plan to display outside their homes.
Patrick Harvie has been accused of "holding back" solar power in Scotland after it was revealed he refused to raise limits on the size of projects eligible for business rates relief.
The UK is facing more potential disruption over strike action in the next couple of weeks.
An SNP equalities officer has apologised for a series of social media outbursts including one threatening violence against women. In now deleted posts, Cameron Downing, 23, said he wanted to “beat the f*** out of some terfs and transphobes”.
Senior nursing official has 'little confidence' in acceptable pay offer being made from from the Scottish Government.
Legislation that would temporarily freeze rents and ban evictions in Scotland has passed its first stage in the Scottish Parliament. MSPs backed the general principles of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Bill by 88 votes to 29 on Tuesday evening.
Ayrshire health chiefs won't be able to hire new registered nurses until September 2023, it has been revealed.