The proposal was published today in the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England joint written evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body for the 2027-28.

It states: ‘DHSC have 16 developed financial and delivery plans that currently plan for a pay uplift of 2.4% without having to make trade-offs against headline Government health commitments. Should the independent pay review bodies recommend an award above this level, we would need to consider whether and how this could be made affordable from within existing DHSC budgets. Accepting such an award would inevitably have an impact on healthcare delivery.'

UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: ‘It's two years since the Government promised to fix the deep-seated problems with NHS salary structures through serious investment. Yet we're still waiting.

‘Over 200,000 staff in the NHS are paid less than the Real Living Wage. They could earn more working for supermarkets or other employers paying that rate. If the NHS doesn't catch up it will lose more staff and be plunged deeper into crisis.

‘NHS workers know the buck stops with the Government on pay. Ministers will have to do much better if they are to rebuild the health service.'