GMB members working in the NHS and ambulance service have voted to accept a pay offer from the government.

Over half of those balloted (56%) voted to accepted the 5% pay rise and lump sum payment in a 51% turnout.

Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, said: “This new pay offer would not have happened without the strike action taken by ambulance and other GMB health workers. 

“GMB members have voted to accept the offer, which means GMB union will vote in favour of the pay offer at the NHS joint staff council meeting next week. 

“Our members recognise that progress has been made – from the government originally offering nothing, health workers will be thousands of pounds better off. 

“It also meets a key GMB demand of a huge pay uplift for the lowest paid, lifting them above the Real Living Wage.”

The government is expected to agree to give all NHS staff in England the 5% pay rise later today after meeting representatives from 14 NHS unions.

UNISON members and unions representing physios and midwives have approved the deal, however, the Unite and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) unions have rejected the offer.

Unite is holding a series of strikes this week but the RCN will have to ballot its members again to approve action with its sixth-month mandate having expired yesterday.

Health & social care secretary Steve Barclay is meeting the British Medical Association today in a bid to end the junior doctors’ dispute.