Backdated pay boost gives hope of end to NHS wages stand-off

HOPES of an NHS pay breakthrough have been raised as ministers consider whether an extra boost for three months could end the dispute.

Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, has also agreed to look at making a oneoff “cost of living” payment to staff, after talks with union chiefs yesterday.

Until now, both sides had been at loggerheads, with ministers refusing to discuss the pay round.

Over the weekend, Mr Barclay’s stance softened, with suggestions that NHS workers could see a significant pay rise in the next financial year, starting in April, if they agree to changes in working practices to boost productivity.

Yesterday’s talks raised the prospect that any such increase could be backdated, and applied to the last quarter of this financial year, as well as to 2023-24.

A source close to Mr Barclay said he agreed to consider both this idea, and proposals for a one-off payment.

Last night, unions said “significant progress” had been made but warned that they would not cancel ambulance strikes, set to take place tomorrow, without a tangible offer on the table.

Nursing leaders said the Government had “a distance to travel” to avert two days of strike action planned next week.

Sara Gorton, head of health at Unison, which represents ambulance workers, said that the talks had made “significant progress”.

She said: “Ministers know unless they come up with some hard cash for a pay boost for what’s left of the current financial year, there can be no resolu- tion to the dispute.”

Rachel Harrison, National Secretary, at GMB, which also represents ambulance workers, said a “concrete” offer was needed to stop the strikes.

♦ Teaching unions said ministers had failed to reduce the threat of industrial action after they walked away from talks with no promise of extra pay.

Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, said that the “stakes have never been higher with strike action, as kids have lost out for two years of the pandemic with the impact on learning and mental health”.

However, Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “There is nothing, so far, that would dissuade us from taking industrial action.”