inisters have made a pay offer to health unions including paramedics and nurses to end a long-running dispute, with an announcement expected on Thursday afternoon.
It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the Government was “hopeful” that a deal could be struck to end strikes in the NHS following “positive progress” in talks.
Last month, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and several health unions representing paramedics agreed to suspend industrial action while they entered into intensive negotiations with ministers.
The offer is understood to include a 5 per cent rise for the 2023/24 financial year as well as a one-off bonus. Union members will need to vote on the deal before it is accepted.
Speaking to Times Radio on Thursday morning, Mr Hunt suggested that a deal was close.
“We will only offer what we can afford to fund. But what we’ve said is that we are willing to make a more generous offer than was settled by the independent processes last year, providing it’s not inflationary.”
He added: “Nothing has been announced yet, so we’re not in a position to be able to say any quantum of money involved, but are we trying to be as flexible as we can within the bounds of something that doesn’t lead to more inflation in the future.”
His comments came after a Government source told the Guardian that the deal could involve a “reasonably substantial one-off, non-consolidated payment” in addition to the £1,400 pay rise given to NHS staff for this year. Members in each union will need to vote on the Government’s offer before it is formally accepted.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) had initially sought a pay rise of 19.5 per cent but since indicated they were willing to compromise on a lower figure. Unison, GMB and Unite had not made a specific pay demand but wanted any pay rise to match inflation.
Separately, tens of thousands of junior doctor members of the British Medical Association (BMA) finished at 72-hour strike at 8am on Thursday.
Nurses Strike | 18-19th January 2023
The true extent of the disruption caused by the strikes is still emerging, but health leaders have warned that tens of thousands of appointments will have been postponed.
Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the BMA council, urged the Government to “engage meaningfully”, though there are no plans for ministers to negotiate with the union.
A DHSC spokesman said: “The Government, NHS employers and unions representing the NHS agenda for change workforce have been holding constructive and meaningful discussions covering pay and non-pay matters.
“These talks are ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the RMT’s General Secretary Mick Lynch told Times Radio that “the end is in sight” of industrial action on Britain’s railways if the Government are willing to “change their attitude”.
He said a potential settlement over strikes in the health sector on Thursday could “open the door” to resolving disputes in other industries like rail.
“A negotiated settlement can be achieved if the government and the companies want to change their attitude towards the trade unions, perhaps we’ll get some settlements in the health sector today, we’ll have to see what that looks like.
“And if that can open the door to other sectors such as we’ve had in the fire service recently, then we’ll look at what the company has got to offer. But they must offer us a better deal. The deal on the table is simply not acceptable. But we’ll be reasonable in our stance and we’ll work out a settlement with them if they’re willing to do so.”
