The Scottish Government has said it will not freeze pay rises for NHS staff following moves to halt increases south of the border.
Westminster proposals to cancel a 1% rise are an attack on staff and a “betrayal” of the NHS, Health Secretary Alex Neil said.
The UK Department of Health argues that the increase is not affordable, given the existing NHS system of automatic incremental salary rises linked to length of service and performance.
In a submission to the independent NHS pay review body, the department proposes to spend funding set aside for the rise on the modernisation of pay structures to “maintain safe staffing levels, with stronger links to performance, quality and productivity”.
The Scottish Government has made its own submission proposing a pay rise in 2014-15, Mr Neil said. He accused his UK counterpart Jeremy Hunt of undermining the health service.
“This is nothing short of bad faith from Jeremy Hunt and a betrayal of the NHS,” Mr Neil said. “To steal the pay rise back from workers’ hands will destabilise the NHS across the UK and damage morale.
“The Scottish Government has no intention of following Jeremy Hunt and we will use our independence over the health service to block this move.
“But with UK-wide agreement to Agenda for Change, which established pay policy in the health service, this damaging right-wing approach could hit Scottish services, and under the current funding settlement could drive down Scotland’s budget in the future.
“Jeremy Hunt’s aim is clear to undermine the publicly-owned NHS and break it up for further privatisation and American-style health insurance.”
A spokeswoman for the UK Department of Health said: “No decisions on changes to pay have been taken. The independent bodies will make their recommendations next year.”