Government agrees pay deal with health union

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said ending "damaging strike action" was "vitally important" in cutting waiting lists.

"This is a fair deal for consultants who will benefit from major reform to their contract, it is fair for taxpayers because it will not risk our ongoing work to tackle inflation, and most importantly it is a good deal for patients to see the end of consultant industrial action," he said.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

"I hugely value the work of NHS consultants and am pleased that we have been able to make this fair and reasonable offer after weeks of constructive negotiations.

"If accepted, it will modernise pay structures, directly addressing gender pay issues in the NHS. It will also enhance consultants' parental leave options."

Unions representing consultant doctors have reached an agreement with the Government over pay, the Department of Health said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) unions will now put the pay offer to a vote of their members, which could potentially see an end to strikes.

The Department of Health said the deal will build on the 6% pay rise previously awarded by "modernising the consultants' pay structure".

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