Nurses set for 'intensive' talks with government after strike paused

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay is to meet Royal College of Nursing bosses for pay talks later, after the union suspended next week's planned strike.

In a joint statement, after months of bitter dispute, the two sides said they would begin "intensive talks" on "pay, terms and conditions" and "reforms to enhance productivity".

Next week's walkout in England, from 1 to 3 March, was set to be the biggest strike of this winter's pay dispute, with half of frontline services affected.

The action would have included nursing staff from intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: "We will put our plans on the table, they can put their plans on the table - but I'm confident that we will come out with a fair pay settlement for our nursing staff."

She added they would make sure no stone was left unturned and a fair pay deal was reached as quickly as possible so they could end the strikes.

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Source: BBC News, 22 February 2023