The British Health Secretary, Alan Milburn, is expected to announce shortly that pay for nurses in the National Health Service will go up this year by more than the rate of inflation for the second year running.

The increases are expected to average three point three per cent. Inflation is currently running at two point six per cent. Mr Milburn said fair pay was needed to encourage more nurses into the health service.

After sustained criticism from the opposition, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, acknowleged at the weekend that there were problems in the NHS.

But he said predicted economic growth should enable the government to bring health funding up to the European average within five years.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service