ANGRY health workers gathered outside Borders General Hospital this morning to protest over the government's cap on pay rises.

NHS Borders was selected by the NHS Pay Review Body to gather evidence in Scotland.

Members met with staff from across the local health board to listen to their views on pay and reward, recruitment, retention, morale, workload, learning and development.

The Pay Review Body are an independent public body which makes recommendations to the Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the pay of all NHS employees other than doctors, dentists and senior managers.

John McLaren, employee director at NHS Borders, told us: “Each and every NHS Borders staff member is valued, they are our greatest asset.

"Together we create and maintain a caring, compassionate environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

"This visit from the Pay Review Body is an opportunity for our staff to engage, give valuable feedback and influence future decisions.

"We believe that everyone has the right to have their voice heard and opinion considered.”

Throughout the morning members of the unions who represent health workers voiced their frustrations at the one per cent pay cap which is in place.

Shirley Burrell, who is UNISON's branch secretary in the Scottish Borders, told us: “We cannot have another year where the UK Government’s infatuation with austerity leads to another real terms cut in the pay of NHS workers.

"In recent months we’ve seen examples time and time again where politicians praise the work of our loyal and dedicated membership and yet they refuse to deliver a fair deal on pay.”