Steve Barclay has claimed the door is open for negotiation, but insists a 17.3 per cent rise is unreasonable (Picture: BBC/PA)

The health secretary shows no signs he is willing to seriously negotiate on pay, the Royal College of Nursing said.

Steve Barclay branded nurses’ calls for a 17.3 per cent rise unreasonable – 
telling Sky News it was three times what private sector workers get.

However, he insisted his door was open for union talks after accepting independent pay recommendations.

But the RCN said he did not seem to intend to sit down for detailed, formal discussions as living costs soar.

‘The health secretary’s lack of intention and inability to see the urgency of this situation will trouble every nurse,’ said general secretary Pat Cullen.

‘He has finally admitted what we’ve been saying about years of neglect, under-investment and, as a result, under-performance, but that is not enough. We need ministers to be bold and adopt a radical new position with serious investment in nursing.’

The RCN has warned it would announce strike dates next month unless pay talks begin quickly. It is calling for pay of five per cent above inflation – arguing experienced nurses were 20 per cent worse off after years of below-inflation rises.

Mr Barclay told the BBC yesterday: ‘We accepted in full the independent pay review body’s recommendations – that’s a minimum of a £1,400 increase. We have listened.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

‘The health secretary’s inability to see the urgency of this situation will trouble every nurse.’