NHS paramedics, nurses and hospital staff who are Unison members have accepted Government pay offer

Paramedics, nurses and hospital porters in England who are members of Unison have accepted the Government’s pay offer.

It puts to end the dispute that saw tens of thousands of union members strike over the winter months.

The offer covers two pay years, with staff receiving a one-off bonus for 2022/23 and a 5 per cent wage rise for 2023/24.

Sara Gorton, head of health at the union, said: ‘Clearly health workers would have wanted more, but this was the best that could be achieved through negotiation.

‘Over the past few weeks, health workers have weighed up what’s on offer. They’ve opted for the certainty of getting the extra cash in their pockets soon.

‘It’s a pity it took several months of strike action before the government would commit to talks. 

‘Unions told ministers last summer the £1,400 pay rise wasn’t enough to stop staff leaving the NHS, nor to prevent strikes. But they didn’t want to listen.’

She said NHS staff were ‘forced to strike’ and lost ‘money they could ill afford’, while the health service and patients ‘suffered months of unnecessary disruption’.

Ms Gorton urged the Government, which is still consulting with other unions representing healthcare staff, to ‘ensure NHS workers get the wage rises they’ve voted for at the earliest opportunity’.

She added: ‘This vote might end UNISON’s dispute, but it doesn’t solve the wider staffing emergency affecting every part of the NHS. Now, the government must work with unions to bring about a sustained programme of investment in the workforce.

‘Lessons must also be learned. The mistakes of the past few months cannot be repeated. It’s time for a whole new approach to setting pay across the NHS.’