MEMBERS of Scotland's largest nursing union have voted for strike action.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members at all NHS boards in Scotland have voted in favour of strike action.

It comes despite the Scottish Government offering NHS workers north of the border a record pay rise that ministers said would see lower earners in the NHS receive an increase of 11%

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But the RCN Scotland Board has formally rejected this revised pay offer from the Scottish Government, with the union stating that industrial action was now expected to begin before the end of this year.

Julie Lamberth, RCN Scotland Boar chair said: “The Scottish Government needs to face up to the reality that their failure to focus on workforce planning and to properly value those working in health and social care over the last decade is the root cause of the staffing crisis we face.

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“The result of our strike ballot is a wake-up call that must not be ignored.”

Ministers have warned there is no more money to fund public sector pay rises and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said a strike would be "catastrophic".