Money for NHS pay rises will have to come from existing health budget, says No 10

Downing Street warns ministers there will be no extra funding as they look for way to solve industrial dispute

Downing Street has warned health ministers they will have to find savings from their own budget if they want to offer NHS workers more money in an effort to end the growing wave of strikes.

No 10 said there would be no increase in the health department’s budget as ministers look for a way to resolve the protracted industrial dispute.