Wes Streeting has branded the Government's refusal to enter pay talks a "complete joke" and accused the Tories of trying to pass blame for their failures onto staff.
The Shadow Health Secretary said the Government was "spoiling for a fight" and claimed it was cynically planning to shift responsibility for “an NHS crisis which is squarely their fault”.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said it would pause major strike action this week if the Government was willing to come to the table.
But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly rejected that idea, saying Health Secretary Steve Barclay was "willing to talk to them" but negotiations are done through the independent pay review body.
Mr Streeting condemned the Government’s attitude to NHS pay as “a complete joke”.
“It is completely unreasonable for the Government not to want to negotiate,” he told Sky News' Ridge on Sunday.
"I think they are spoiling for a fight".
Mr Streeting said the offer of talks was "too good to refuse" and demanded to know why the Government wouldn't entertain the idea.
"The Government's line is a complete joke on that, there hasn't been a single minute of negotiation," he said.
"I think they don't have a plan for the NHS this winter, they're quite happy to see paramedics and nurses go on strike because when the proverbial hits the fan this winter, they are going to blame paramedics and nurses for an NHS crisis that is squarely the fault of a Conservative government and 12 years of mismanagement."
But Mr Streeting refused to say whether Labour would accept the pay demands.
"I am not prepared to create hostages to fortune and, worse still, make promises for two years' time that I may not be able to keep," he said.
It comes as RCN chief Pat Cullen signalled she could back down on a 5% above inflation pay rise demand.
She told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "Our position hasn't changed, absolutely not.
"What I am saying is the Health Secretary can choose negotiation over picket lines.
"My door is open, I am offering conciliation through Acas and we can start that from tomorrow morning. I won't dig in if he doesn't dig in."
But Mr Cleverly refused to commit the Government to opening pay talks.
He said the Health Secretary was willing to meet union leaders but added: "Meetings are different to pay negotiations."
He said contingency plans were being put in place to protect patients during walkouts.
Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said the NHS faces disruption with the nurses' strike and contribute to waiting list issues faced by the NHS post Covid.
He said: "The majority of hospitals are not affected by strike action but be sure our services will be disrupted."
