The nurses strikes have been paused while the Royal College of Nursing enters into talks with the government.

The health secretary will meet with the Royal College of Nursing on Wednesday.

In a joint statement, the two parties said: "The Government and Royal College of Nursing have agreed to enter a process of intensive talks. Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the National Health Service and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation. The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms.

It is expected the talks will focus on pay.

The planned strike from 1 to 3 March, was set to be the biggest strike of this winter's pay dispute, with half of frontline services affected.

The action would have included nursing staff from intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously not included.