NHS staff could get early pay rise next year in bid to end more crippling strikes
NHS staff could be on track for an early pay rise next year in a bid to avoid more crippling strikes.
Leaders are looking at pushing forward NHS pay deal talks to try and make up for this year's squeeze.
Thousands of nurses walked out on Tuesday while ambulance staff staged their biggest strike in 30 years yesterday, causing chaos across the UK.
The PM is holding firm not to reopen this year's pay agreement.
Nurses were asking for a staggering 19 per cent hike, which ministers said was unaffordable.
But Health Secretary Steve Barclay is keen to try and see no more time wasted in next year's pay talks - which could come early.
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Talks usually start in April and then an announcement comes over the summer - backdated to the spring.
But this may be brought forward sooner in a bid to offer a more generous package.
One source said: “Steve is very keen for this to go ahead at pace and not be dragged out as it has been in the past."
NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor appeared to confirm that the pay decisions will be brought forward, telling the BBC this morning: "I believe that next year we will be in a more positive context for negotiation - inflation will be falling, hopefully, we'll have earlier Pay Review body findings, we will at last have a workforce strategy.
"This is the worst possible time for the NHS to be facing industrial action.
"So can we find a way of getting through the next couple of months without industrial action? And then have a more positive context for negotiation next year."
Health Minister Will Quince said earlier this week the next pay deal will more accurately reflect the current sky-high levels of inflation.
That would mean a pay rise for millions of workers could be on the horizon in the New Year.
It comes after unions and ministers remained in stalemate over pay negotiations on Wednesday night.
And the Royal College of Nursing's general secretary Pat Cullen this week said that nurses may have 'no option' but to strike in January if the Government does not come to the table.
Unions have said they expect NHS workers to be offered a 2 per cent increase next year, based on a letter sent by Mr Barclay last month to the NHS Pay Review Body.
At least 11,509 staff were absent from work across England during strikes by the Royal College of Nursing on Tuesday, and 13,797 appointments and procedures had to be rescheduled, according to NHS England.
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Thousands of ambulance workers took industrial action on Wednesday, with members of the military stepping in to take their place and trusts telling patients only to call 999 in the case of a life-threatening emergency.
The next ambulance strike is due to take place on December 28.
It comes as desperate families were forced to rush their loved ones to A&E in their own cars on Wednesday amid strike action.
Workers across several other industries are also set to strike in the build-up to Christmas - including border force staff tomorrow.
On Thursday, strikes will be held by Unite members working for Highlands and Islands Airports, National Highways workers in London and the South East, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in the North West, Yorkshire and Humber and North Wales.
Unison workers at the Environment Agency will refuse to provide on-call cover for unexpected incidents, and Rural Payments Agency staff will continue their walkout.
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On Friday, the National Highways and DVSA strikes are due to continue, while Royal Mail workers will begin a two-day national stoppage.
Christmas Eve will bring strikes from RMT railway workers from 6pm, and London bus workers at Abellio.