Health unions could call off mass strike action if ministers offer NHS staff a 10% pay rise, a union leader has said.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham suggested unions would accept a double-digit wage increase and said Labour should show "real leadership" by backing the demand.
Thousands of members of Unison, Unite and the GMB unions will down tools across England and Wales today in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
Up to 15,000 Unison ambulance workers will strike for the third time in five weeks and will be joined by 5,000 of their NHS colleagues at two hospital trusts in Liverpool.
The NHS will face its biggest strike day in history next month on February 6 when nurses and ambulance crews are due to hold industrial action on the same day.
The Unite leader told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the Government must offer a double-digit pay rise instead of "dancing round their handbags".
She said: "I think it's really clear that what we're talking about is a double-digit pay rise. That's what we're talking about.
"The RCN have already said they'd meet them halfway. I don't know how many more hints do they want to take on that?
"So, it's a double-digit pay rise. If they came in the room, and they offered a double-digit pay rise, we would take that back to our members and our members would make the decision."
She said Labour should "come out to say they would give the NHS a pay rise and it would be 10%, I think that just needs to be said because everybody knows what we’re talking about, we are all pretending we don’t know the figure."
Health Secretary Steve Barclay appeared to rule out a 10% pay rise for nurses last week, insisting it was "not affordable".
The Unite boss accused Rishi Sunak of being “missing in action” and demanded ministers drop their resistance to discussing pay.
She said: “There is another strike tomorrow, there is an escalation of strikes over the coming weeks and Rishi Sunak, I have to say, is missing in action, I don't know where he is.
"He should be getting round the table; he is the CEO of this company if you talking about negotiating terms. He is the key decision maker.
"It is clear Steven Barclay cannot make a decision and it is either that Rishi Sunak is not up to this job, that he doesn’t want to come into the negotiating room and do this deal or there must be another reason as to why he is allowing this self-harm to happen to the NHS."
She accused ministers of "lying" and not being "an honest partner at the other side of the table".
"I'm negotiating with somebody at the moment that I don't think wants resolution, and that's a real problem," Ms Graham said.
Ahead of Monday's strikes, NHS England medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said it was "vital to come forward and seek emergency care if needed".
"This includes calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies as well as using 111 online for other health needs where you will receive clinical advice on the best next steps to take," he said.
"People should also continue to use local services such as pharmacies and general practice as they normally would which aren't impacted by strike action."
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said a better pay offer could end the dispute and "help turn the ailing NHS around".
She said: "The solution to the growing NHS crisis is staring the Government in the face. It's simple, all the Chancellor needs to do is find the money to pay health workers fairly."
"The public wants the Government to end the dispute, so do NHS staff, but most ministers look like they'd rather dig in and do nothing instead of boost pay and help turn the ailing NHS around."
Ms McAnea told Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to "come out of hiding and unlock the funding to end the strikes".
Ahead of today's strikes, Mr Barclay said: "It is hugely disappointing some ambulance workers are continuing to take
industrial action. While we have contingency plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety, there will inevitably be further disruption.
"It is important people continue coming forward for treatment - call 999 in life threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 online, local pharmacies and GP services for non-life threatening care.
"I have had constructive talks with unions about this coming year's pay process for 2023/24, and am keen to continue talking about what is affordable and fair."
