Nurse strikes planned for next week have been put on hold as the union has entered "intensive talks" with the government.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Government issued a joint statement saying the talks would focus on "pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms". Health Secretary Steve Barclay is due to meet with RCN representatives on Wednesday.
The joint statement said: "The Government and Royal College of Nursing have agreed to enter a process of intensive talks. Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the National Health Service and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister's priority to halve inflation.
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"The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms. The Health Secretary will meet with the Royal College of Nursing on Wednesday to begin talks.
"The Royal College of Nursing will pause strike action during these talks."
The next industrial action pencilled in for nurses was on March 1 when they had planned to strike continuously for 48 hours. The action would have also included nursing staff from emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempted.
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