Rishi Sunak ‘considers one-off payment for NHS staff to end strikes’

PM declines to rule out one-off hardship payment, as health secretary meets union bosses

Rishi Sunak’s government is said to be considering a “one-off” payment for nurses and ambulance workers to end strikes causing major disruption in the NHS.

The prime minister sparked a “chink of optimism” about a possible pay boost for health workers after he signalled a willingness to address higher pay demands for the first time.

Health secretary Steve Barclay is expected to focus on the next year’s pay review process – rather than the current pay dispute – when he meets heath union leaders on Monday morning.