Ambulance strikes, which would have affected Hertfordshire, have been suspended.

A first day of action had been planned for Wednesday (March 8), however, trade union UNISON has now entered pay talks with the government.

Prior to the announcement of a strike, the East of England Ambulance Service had been the only service across England not to take part in industrial action.

All but one ambulance service in the country were due to join the strike on Wednesday.

UNISON will now represent East of England Ambulance Service staff, and other NHS workers, in negotiations for better pay.

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According to the trade union, the decision to suspend the strike for March 8 was taken after the government's Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that there would be additional investment in pay for both this year (2022/23) and next (2023/24).

UNISON's head of health, Sara Gorton, said: “Unions said all along they could pause strikes if ministers would only commit to formal talks to boost pay for this year.

“The government has finally promised extra investment in pay for both this and next year.

“The sad thing is this could all have been handled so differently.

                                                                                                         

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"Proper pay talks should have started months ago, long before the first strike was called.

"That would have avoided days of disruption for the NHS and its patients. 

“Whether the talks signal the beginning of the end of the current dispute will emerge in the coming days.

"If a deal can be reached, strikes can end and everyone can work together again to ensure the NHS gets back on track.

“However, when we get in the room, we’ll quickly learn whether the talks can be meaningful.

"If not, UNISON will be forced to resume strike action. Nobody wants that.”

Both GMB and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have also suspended strike action.

Members of the GMB union had voted to strike in February.