NHS unions vote to accept government pay deal – but nurses could still strike

Health leaders raised concerns about ‘worrying’ prospect of further walkouts by unions that did not agree to the offer

Unions representing more than one million NHS workers have voted to accept a 5 per cent pay rise from the government following months of strikes.

Healthcare staff covered by 14 unions will be given the raise for 2023-24, along with two one-off payments for last year, after the majority voted in favour of the deal at the NHS staff council today.

Unison and the GMB, which represent ambulance staff and other healthcare workers, were key organisations to sway the vote after their members voted last month to accept.