Pay in Scotland

LAST UPDATED: 11 February 2026

How does the DDRBs recent recommendation on pay affect me?

On 22 May 2025, the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) published its 53rd report recommending an uplift of 4% to employed dentists’ salaries and the pay element of NHS contracts.

We have set out how the DDRB’s recommendation might affect you in as much detail as is possible at this stage.

NHS employed dentists

The Scottish Government has confirmed a 4% uplift to basic pay across NHS medical and dental staff, as detailed in the pay circular. This uplift will be backdated to 1 April 2025.

Resident dentists

The pay uplift for resident doctors and dentists was announced separately and was confirmed as 4.25%. Full details of the uplift are outlined in the pay circular. A subsequent pay and contract reform offer was made by the Scottish Government and published on 9 January 2026. This offer was accepted on 11 February 2026.

NHS General Dental Practitioners

The Scottish Government has accepted the pay bodies (DDRB) recommendation of a 4% increase on the pay element for general dental practitioners, and orthodontic fees. As in previous years, the increase on pay will apply to gross item of service fees and capitation payments. The pay award will be implemented from 1 November 2025 and backdated to 1 April 2025.

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