NHS ambulance staff, nurses and physiotherapists have begun voting on a government pay offer which has been recommended by their union leaders.

The deal which includes a one-off bonus of at least £1,250 per worker and a 5% pay rise for 2023/24 brought strike action to a halt after it was approved by the  RCN, UNISON, GMB, CSP and BDA, last month. Junior doctors are continuing with industrial action in their pay dispute with the government, however, with a four-day strike taking place next month.

RCN general secretary & chief executive Pat Cullen said: “Weeks of negotiation resulted in a new offer and it’s only right that we ask our members to vote again and to give their view on the government’s proposal. Whatever the members decide, we will build on the last few months of campaigning for fair pay and recognition. 

“We are urging our members to look at the offer in full. There are several elements, including a stepping stone towards safe staffing legislation and a new pay spine for nursing. 

“Nursing staff have fought proudly for their profession and patients alike in recent months. Our membership has never been stronger and their determination has led to this new offer.”

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “UNISON’s experienced negotiators have worked hard to get ministers to come up with an offer that boosts pay for this year, as well as increases in pay for next year by an amount more than the government had budgeted for.

“It’s by no means perfect, but our negotiators have done their best to get us to a point where we have an offer for members to take a decision on.”

Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay said: “This week, nurses, ambulance crews, physiotherapists and other non-medical NHS staff will begin to vote in trade union ballots on the government’s pay offer – this is a hugely positive step after weeks of constructive talks.

“This fair and balanced offer recognises the vital role these hardworking NHS staff play, while protecting our commitment to halve inflation – and I urge union members to accept our offer.

“I’m working with the Treasury to ensure my department has the money it needs to fully fund this pay offer, which will include additional funding and reprioritising existing budgets. This is on top of the existing funding we have already made available for a pay increase of up to 3.5% in 2023-24.

“I want to be clear – there will be no impact to frontline services or quality of care as a result of this offer.”

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive at NHS Providers said: “There is no fat left to trim in health and care budgets. Any pay uplift agreed between the government and unions must be funded by new money.

“Reprioritising existing budgets could drain funding from other vital areas of the NHS in the long term, putting frontline NHS services at risk of being cut or severely scaled back.

“NHS England only has funding for a 3% pay uplift. The ongoing lack of clarity over where funding is coming from for these new pay offers is deeply worrying and must be resolved as soon as possible so that trusts and NHS England can plan with certainty.”