THE next NHS pay deal for 2023-24 — due by April — could be backdated to this month in a bid to avert more national strikes across the heath service, unions suggested today.

Unison head of health Sara Gorton said that Tory Health Secretary Steve Barclay had acknowledged that any new settlement would need to involve a “reach-back” into the current pay year to avoid more walkouts. 

The apparent concession, made during Monday’s crisis talks with unions in Whitehall, came ahead of another walkout over pay by ambulance staff across England and Wales today and a 48-hour strike by nurses next week.