Health unions hail victory after government’s new pay offer for NHS staff in England

Offer includes two one-off payments - 2% bonus and 4% Covid payment - plus pay rise of about 5%

Health unions hailed a historic victory on Thursday, after Steve Barclay made a significant new pay offer aimed at ending NHS strikes in England, in a climbdown that could embolden other unions at loggerheads with the government.

After months of rolling strikes involving thousands of NHS workers including nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists, the government ditched its claim that this year's pay deal could not be reopened and offered a one-off bonus worth up to 8.2%.