End of ambulance and nursing strikes in sight as ministers finally ‘agree’ £2.5billion pay deal

Ministers and NHS unions have today agreed a new pay deal worth £2.5billion in a move that could spell the end of a winter of strikes.

After weeks of wrangling behind the scenes, the Government has offered over one million staff a one-off bonus worth up to £3,800. They will also receive an extra 5 per cent for 2023/24.

Both sides agree the deal is a ‘fair and reasonable settlement’, a No10 spokesperson said.

But one of the six unions involved in the negotiations stated it was ‘far from perfect’ and ‘of course our NHS workers deserve more’.

Planned walk-outs from the Royal College of Nursing, Unison, GMB, Unite, the British Dental Association and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists have now been suspended.

But one of the six unions involved in the negotiations stated it was ‘far from perfect’ and ‘of course our NHS workers deserve more’

Meanwhile RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ‘The government was forced into these negotiations and to reopen the pay award as a result of the historic pressure from nursing staff. Members took the hardest of decisions to go on strike and I believe they have been vindicated today’

They will all ask their members over whether to agree the deal or not.

If they accept, strikes that have plagued the ailing health service for months will be officially over.

But the offer does not cover junior doctors, who this week launched their own three-day walk-out in pursuit of an inflation-busting 35 per cent pay hike.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the offer amounts to ‘a fair pay rise’.

He said: ‘I hugely admire the incredible work of NHS staff, including during the pandemic and the progress they have made to tackle the resulting backlog.

‘This offer will give nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and other non-medical staff a fair pay rise while protecting our commitment to halve inflation.

‘We have engaged in constructive and meaningful discussions with unions and NHS Employers and I look forward to continuing our work together to make the NHS a better place to work.’

In a statement the Department of Health and Social Care said talks ‘have been constructive’ and the offer put forward by the Government is ‘a final offer’. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is ‘really pleased’ that the Government and unions have come to an agreement that will end the strike action.

‘It is right that we reward our hardworking NHS staff, who showed bravery and dedication throughout the pandemic and continue to make phenomenal progress to tackle waiting lists,’ he said.

‘Importantly this deal is also affordable for the taxpayer and continues to deliver on my promise to halve inflation.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay, speaking to broadcasters in his department, said he was ‘very pleased’ that the NHS Staff Council had ‘agreed to recommend’ the Government’s formal offer.

He said it includes a 5 per cent pay rise for 2023/24 and an ‘additional lump sum’ for this year, meaning a newly qualified nurse would get an extra £1,800 this year on top of the existing deal and a pay rise of more than £1,300 next year.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the offer amounts to ‘a fair pay rise’. He said: ‘I hugely admire the incredible work of NHS staff, including during the pandemic and the progress they have made to tackle the resulting backlog. This offer will give nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and other non-medical staff a fair pay rise while protecting our commitment to halve inflation’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is ‘really pleased’ that the Government and unions have come to an agreement that will end the strike action

Meanwhile RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ‘The government was forced into these negotiations and to reopen the pay award as a result of the historic pressure from nursing staff. 

‘Members took the hardest of decisions to go on strike and I believe they have been vindicated today.

‘After tough negotiations, there are a series of commitments here that our members can see will make a positive impact on the nursing profession, the NHS and the people who rely on it.’

She added: ‘Our members will have their say on it and I respect everybody’s perspective. Each should look closely at what it means for them.

‘As well as the additional money now, we have made real progress with the government on safe staffing measures, a new pay structure for nursing, support for newly qualified staff and pensions too.

‘It is not a panacea, but it is real tangible progress and the RCN’s member leaders are asking fellow nursing staff to support what our negotiations have secured.’

UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: ‘It’s a shame it took so long to get here. Health workers had to take many days of strike action, and thousands more had to threaten to join them, to get their union into the room and proper talks underway.’

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, added: ‘Thanks to the strength and hard work of GMB’s NHS members, the Government has gone from refusing to talk about pay to putting an extra 2.5 billion pounds on the table for this year.

‘GMB members should rightly be proud of themselves. It’s been a tough road but they have faced down the Department of Health and won an offer that we feel is the best that can be achieved at this stage through negotiation.

‘This offer is far from perfect, and of course our NHS workers deserve more.’