Angry nurses have warned the Scottish Government that more people will continue to leave the profession unless they are offered a fair pay rise.
Dozens of members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) held a protest outside the SNP conference in Aberdeen where they spoke briefly with Humza Yousaf.
The RCN is balloting for strike action in Scotland after rejecting a pay offer of five per cent.
Yousaf told nurses gathered outside the conference hall that he would be meeting with RCN leaders next week to offer a new pay deal.
Zoe James, a mental health nurse from Aberdeen, was among those to speak to the health secretary.
She told the Record: "We have been undervalued and underpaid - whether that is pay freezes or below inflation wage rises for 12 years.
"It has got to the stage where I can't afford to live on my salary any longer.
"I'm 24 years qualified. I've got a degree. I'm qualified in various therapies.
"And I'm stuck. Our pay scales to do not reflect our skills and expertise.
"We are expected to take on more and more responsibilities. We are doing many roles that were traditionally considered medical staff roles.
"There is a decrease in people entering the profession. I know many newly qualified people who have chosen to take on other roles, like occupational health therapy.
"They're not staying in the profession. There are people leaving in their droves."
Speaking to reporters, Yousaf said: "I'm pleased to meet with those who come out to demonstrate. They're obviously very angry, upset and exhausted because of the pressures they are under.
"I meet with NHS staff day in and day out in this job. They are rightly asking for a significantly improved offer in pay.
"We do have a meeting set up with the trade unions next week and I will present a significantly improved pay offer and I hope it meets their expectations - but if it doesn't we will keep getting back around the table."
The ballot on strike action got under way on Thursday, with all UK members being asked if they are prepared to walk out over pay.
That ballot closes on November 2.
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