Barclay hints at revised NHS pay offer ahead of 'world's biggest nurses' strike'

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Health Secretary Steve Barclay has hinted that striking NHS staff could be offered better pay from April, if unions agreed in return of "productivity and efficiency" reforms.

< p>With paramedics and staff from the "world's largest nurses' strike" set to leave in days unless a deal can be reached Concluded in a clash with union leaders on Monday, the minister insisted he "[remains] ready to engage" on how the government can "support the workforce". /p>

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Barclay said he "looked forward" to discussing with the unions how any pay settlement could be reached" more affordable, where there are opportunities for productivity and efficiency."

Rishi Sunak held talks on Saturday decisive s in issue 10 with health officials to discuss how to alleviate one of the worst crises in the NHS's 75-year history, with delays in patient discharge partly to blame for deadly waits and unprecedented in emergency care.

It came as Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Secretary General Pat Cullen in an interview with The Independent, warned that Mr Sunak's waitlist commitment would fail without salary being addressed and said the upcoming strike would be the largest of its kind in the world.

She said: "We voted for approximately 320,000 nurses and, from what I understand, this is the biggest nurses' vote in the world and the biggest nurses' strike in the world. world. . We have also increased the number of organizations [such as NHS Trusts]. They are now 70 concerned. The first time was 46."

In his editorial, Mr Barclay pledged to take further steps to "improve the flow in our hospitals" on Monday, when he unveiled a new program to expand bed capacity in hospitals and care homes.

Hundreds of millions of pounds will be spent to buy thousands of care home beds in bulk, according to Sunday Times, as part of an offer. .