Unison claims the deal could mean staff cuts

It follows the announcement that consultants are to get a pay increase of 8.5%.

Unison has called on the Scottish Executive to fully fund the new agreement and ensure the increase spreads to other health service workers.

The executive denied there would be a shortfall and insisted it was boosting funding allocations to NHS boards in order to pay for the wage hikes.

Jim Devine, Unison's Scottish organiser for health, said: "While we welcome any group of workers improving their pay and conditions, the 8.5% pay rise for consultants is having a demoralising impact on the NHS.

As the deal is not being fully funded, a doctor's pay rise could be a nurse's unemployment Jim Devine Unison

"While the headline figure is an increase of 8.5%, documents in our possession show that the real rise will be around 15-18%."

Mr Devine warned: "This increase will cost the average Scottish trust around �750,000.

"As the deal is not being fully funded, a doctor's pay rise could be a nurse's unemployment."

He claimed trusts may have to reduce staff numbers or services if the executive does not properly fund the agreement.

'Fully funded'

Mr Devine also said the increase was in comparison to a 3.25% rise granted to nurses, porters, administrative, clerical and laboratory staff this year and a 2.25% increase for senior managers.

But the executive denied there would be a problem with the funding.

A spokesman said: "Not only have the new contracts been agreed for consultants but pay modernisation is being taken forward across the NHS by Agenda for Change.

"These pay rises are fully funded by the executive through significant increases in NHS board allocations."

Dr Peter Bennie, a consultant psychiatrist in Glasgow and a member of the negotiation team for the BMA's consultants' committee, defended the rise.

He told BBC Scotland: "It is important to remember that this is not a flat pay rise, but the first change in consultants' contracts since the NHS started in 1948.

"Up until now consultants have all been paid at a flat rate for a 38-and-a-half-hour week, however the vast majority work 50-plus hours. This brings an end to unpaid overtime.