A PLANNED strike by health workers on Thursday has been called off following a breakthrough in talks.

Union leaders decided to suspend the industrial action after the Government offered a 1% pay increase to most NHS staff.

While the lowest paid staff will get an extra £200 a year, minimum pay levels will rise to £15,100 in a deal that will cost the NHS an estimated £450million.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had warned that plans by paramedics to strike could endanger lives and affect patient safety “to an unacceptable level”.