The Department for Health has this evening confirmed a three percent pay increase for nurses, paramedics, consultants, GPs and dentists in England. The Government said the move would mean an additional ￡1,000 per year for the average nurse and a ￡540 annual increase for porters and cleaners.

       The salary hike is recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body and will be backdated to the start of the financial year in April.

       Mr Johnson had previously put forward an increase of just one percent for the NHS despite the heroic efforts of health professionals throughout the pandemic.

       The offer triggered a major backlash with Unions threatening to take industrial action.

       A rise of one percent also fell below inflation which is expected to soar to around three or four percent by the end of the year.

       Unions have called for a substantial increase of between 12 and 15 percent for NHS staff.

       Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who remains self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, said the pay rise was in “recognition of their extraordinary efforts”.

       Mr Javid said: “NHS staff are rightly receiving a pay rise this year despite the wider public sector pay pause, in recognition of their extraordinary efforts.

       “We asked the independent pay review bodies for their recommendations and I'm pleased to accept them in full, with a 3 percent pay rise for all staff in scope, from doctors and nurses to paramedics and porters.

       "We will back the NHS as we focus our efforts on getting through this pandemic and tackling the backlog of other health problems that has built up.

       "I will continue to do everything I can to support all those in our health service who are working so tirelessly to care for patients."

       Health minister Helen Whately had been due to make the announcement as she addressed MPs in parliament this afternoon, but it was not mentioned in the chamber.

       In a statement this evening, she said: "I am determined to make the NHS the best place to work for all our staff and we continue to invest in recruitment and retention with over 45,300 more staff in the NHS now compared to a year ago, including nearly 9,000 more nurses and over 4,000 more doctors.

       "Our NHS staff have worked incredibly hard to fight the pandemic for over eighteen months and I'm glad to confirm we are accepting the pay review bodies' recommendations in full this year, so staff in their remit will receive a 3 percent pay rise."

       Union bosses have since lashed out at the three percent increase, with Unite national officer for health, Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe, branding it "grossly inadequate and underwhelming".

       He added the sum even falls short of the four percent offered to NHS staff in Scotland.

       Pat Cullen, interim general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, claimed the proposal is in fact a ￡200 decrease in pay for nurses when inflation of 3.7 percent is taken into account.

       She added: "Nursing staff will remain dignified in responding to what will be a bitter blow to many, but the profession will not take this lying down.

       “We will be consulting our members on what action they would like to take next."

       Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, said the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in staff morale hitting “rock bottom” and a three percent increase was an “appalling pay offer”.

       She added: "This was the opportunity for Government to turn their clapping in to genuine recognition.

       “Their response is paltry. They have failed spectacularly.

       "NHS workers know their worth and so do the public - shame on the Government, who don't."