A walkout planned by NHS staff across Sussex has been suspended so union members can be consulted on a new offer over pay.

Members of unions including Unison, the GMB and the Royal Society of Radiographers were due to join a national strike tomorrow over the government’s refusal to award a 1% pay rise.

However the action has been temporarily called off following extensive negotiations.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The Department is of course pleased that the unions have called off their industrial action.

“We note the mutual agreement which has been reached which, significantly, will not risk frontline jobs and will not involve any increased cost to the taxpayer.

"Although the arrangements for 2014/15 are settled, we have previously indicated to trade union colleagues locally that we are willing to discuss an affordable pay settlement going forward within the parameters of the current cost envelope."

The offer drawn up in Westminster includes a consolidated 1% pay rise for all staff up to senior level and an additional £200 payment for lower paid staff.

There is also a commitment from the Government to the NHS Pay Review Body and that it will continue to make future recommendations on pay rises for NHS staff in 2016/17.

Unison's head of health Christina McAnea said: "The two strike days staged by health workers last year have moved the Government to negotiate with the unions.

"This isn't a great offer but it addresses some of the key concerns unions have about low pay in the NHS. In the interest of patients' safety unions will now consult members.

"It will be up to members to decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If they choose to reject them we will move to further industrial action."

She said the offer means more than 250,000 of the lowest paid workers in the NHS will get a pay increase of between 2.2% and 5.6% next year.