An NHS Ayrshire & Arran worker has called for a fair pay deal after staff “put everything in” during the pandemic.

The health boards’s procurement officer Kevin McGregor said NHS employees have been “fobbed off” over wage requests.

The Unison representative has been calling on the Scottish Government to reopen NHS wage talks this year as part of national campaign Pay Up Now.

McGregor took part in a demonstration at Crosshouse Hospital on Tuesday, August 18 to raise awareness and other demonstrations have taken place around Scotland.

McGregor said: “NHS staff feel they have been fobbed off. They are just asking for a fair negotiation to make it easier to live.

“Some of my colleagues have not just had to put their lives on the line but the health and wellbeing of their families and friends.

“We are just looking for a fair figure for frontline staff in recognition of the work they have done.”

The vice-chair of Unison’s Ayrshire health branch added: “Staff have put everything in to working through this pandemic.”

Health secretary Jeane Freeman met with Unison during the week, she said: “As we’re now in the last year of the three-year deal, we’re working closely with NHS unions to agree a timetable to secure a new pay deal for 2021 to 2022.

“Discussions with Unison members and staff working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic are vital to understand the experience of staff and reaching a deal that reflects and recognises their efforts.

“I’ve been repeatedly clear that we’re considering several options for this which take into account the efforts of NHS staff during the pandemic, and have not ruled out re-opening the final year of the current three-year pay deal as part of that 2021 to 2022 deal.”

“This year the majority of NHS Scotland staff including nurses, ancillary, administration and allied health professionals, have received a 2.95 per cent pay rise.”