"However the Government has made it clear that employees should contribute more to their pensions.

"As an employers organisation we work closely with local trusts and believe the government's response to our proposals is a progressive move. Hard choices had to be made and the change ensures that those staff on lower salaries, who provide a significant amount of patient contact, are protected from further costs in the second year of a period of pay restraint.

"We hope that this will create an environment where we can have substantive discussions on the broader issue of pension reform and we will play our part in those conversations to ensure an outcome that delivers for employers, for staff and for patients and avoids further Industrial action in the NHS."