Government ministers have met nursing unions to head off in industrial action after nurses voted for strikes that will affect well over half of the NHS trust hospitals.
Following the meeting, which included the six largest health unions, health secretary Steve Barclay tweeted suggesting a deal had not yet been agreed.
“I reiterated my admiration for all healthcare workers and we discussed ways we can work together to make the NHS a better place to work,” he said.
“My door remains open and we will continue to meet.”
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) confirmed last week that nurses from 176 out of 219 trusts supported strike action, which will likely happen before the new year, with more unions currently balloting members to join the action.
NHS Providers interim CEO, Saffron Cordery previously warned that patients will ultimately lose out due to the strikes, with treatment waiting lists likely to get longer if the strikes go ahead.
A record seven million people are currently waiting for treatment in the UK, leading Cordery to add that strikes are the “last thing the health service needs right now”.
Representatives of the health unions reportedly met on Monday to discuss tactics ahead of talks with the government, according to the Telegraph, which said that the strikes will likely be coordinated in order to cause maximum disruption.
Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Barclay said: “I will do my utmost to support nurses, but RCN’s call for a massive 17.6% pay rise is unaffordable and would drive inflation further upwards.”