Health unions have been offered a five per cent pay rise for next year, The Telegraph understands.

The proposal for around one million NHS staff, including nurses and ambulance workers, has been made to unions, who are due to meet to consider the offer. 

The terms are also understood to include a two per cent non-consolidated payment award relating to 2022/23 and a four per cent “Covid recovery bonus”.

The proposal for the financial year 2023/24 would mean an average of 5 per cent rise for staff, with slightly more for the very lowest paid, who could expect an increase of 5.2 per cent.

It is also expected to include a series of “non-pay measures” to support staff, including a focus on career development. 

Unions including The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the GMB Union are expected to consider the offer today, with terms likely to then be put to members for a vote.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Care recommended a rise of 3.5 per cent for 2023/24, as had the Treasury. 

The proposals relate to around 1 million staff on “Agenda for Change” contracts which cover nurses, ambulance workers, porters, cleaners and other workers. 

They do not affect doctors, who have just ended a 72-hour-walkout, as part of a British Medical Association campaign for pay rises of 35 per cent. 

On Thursday morning Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the UK Government wants to “come to a fair deal on pay” to resolve public sector strikes.

Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme why there was not money for public sector settlements in his Budget, the Chancellor said: “We are having discussions, quite good discussions I think, with unions.

“We’ve been very flexible about what we’ve been prepared to offer. The only condition we put on those talks is we can’t give an offer that would itself fuel inflation and mean we are having the same discussions this time next year.

“What I would say to all of them is we recognise how tough it has been in terms of the price of the weekly shop going up, the price of petrol going up and so on.

“That’s why we are putting in about £3,000 per household this year and next on average to help support people through a difficult period. But we also want to come to a fair deal on pay.”

Asked whether there could be more money for nurses and ambulance workers, Mr Hunt replied: “We don’t have an agreement yet, so I can’t tell you what the quantum is.

“I am hopeful we will have an agreement. I think we’ve had some very positive discussions but let’s see where it ends up today.

Pressed on whether more than the 3.5 per cent rise recommended for 2023/24 by the Department of Health and Social Care could be agreed, Mr Hunt said: “All I will say is, if the Government says we will do a different deal, we will find a way to pay for it. Yes, we would like to settle these disputes.”