Barclay expected to urge fresh talks aimed at ending health strikes

RCN says talks must take place this week or more strikes will be tabled for new year as ambulance staff prepare for Wednesday walkout

The health secretary, Steve Barclay, is expected to contact health unions to urge a fresh round of talks aimed at averting further strikes, amid new warnings that more action could put patients in danger.

It comes as No 10 rejected a proposal to give nurses a one-off lump-sum payment in an attempt to end the industrial action, one of the measures Barclay had suggested as a compromise in crunch Whitehall meetings last week.