Plans for a nationwide strike by hospital personnel in mid-April have been called off after unions and hospital bosses reached agreement on a new pay and conditions deal.

Talks on a new CAO for healthcare workers had broken down, with hospitals refusing to improve their offer of a 4% pay rise in 2025 and a further 2% next year. The FNV wanted a 7% increase in 2025.

The new deal, which will affect 225,000 people, includes an 8% increase over two years, the FNV trade union said in a statement. Teaching hospitals are not included in the deal and have their own agreement.

The unions also called on hospitals to introduce measures to reduce the pressure of work, including ensuring staff have eight hours off after a night shift. This has also been agreed, as have improvements to the rostering.

Hospital chiefs have also agreed to look into the introduction of a 32-hour week.

The agreement still has to be put to union members.