Nurses in England pause strike action to enter ‘intensive’ pay talks

Health secretary, Steve Barclay, to take part in talks on pay, conditions and ‘productivity-enhancing reforms’

Nurses in England have agreed to pause major strike action while they hold “intensive talks” with the government in an attempt to reach a settlement in the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.

The Royal College of Nursing and the Department of Health and Social Care issued a joint statement on Tuesday saying the talks would focus on “pay, terms and conditions, and productivity-enhancing reforms”.