Ministers are at war over whether to give nurses a pay rise to avoid another damaging NHS strike.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is under fire over claims he is blocking efforts by Steve Barclay to negotiate an end to industrial action in UK hospitals.   

The Health Secretary has reportedly told unions he wants to persuade the Treasury to offer higher pay rises to NHS workers. 

But Mr Hunt wants any pay increase to come out of the existing health budget, meaning it would require cuts to care elsewhere.

Nurses have threatened to double down on strike efforts next month, with walk-outs by more staff than in a first strike in December.

Unison's Sara Gorton has revealed that Steve Barclay's tone has been 'very different' in negotiations this week, and he privately told unions he wanted to secure a better pay offer from Number 10, according to The Observer.

Ms Gorton told the newspaper that Mr Barclay had 'talked about asking us to help make the case to the Treasury for the investment needed', although it is understood his comments were in the context of seeking greater efficiencies to unlock the money.

Meanwhile, a source told the Sunday Times of Mr Hunt: 'Last year he argued for more funding for the NHS in his book, Zero. Now he has become the iron chancellor, saying no to everything.' 

A health source denied talk of a rift, telling MailOnline Mr Barlcay was 'working closely with colleagues across Government to find a resolution'.

Ms Gorton added that the Health Secretary appeared willing to talk about more pay for this year for all NHS staff except doctors.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that double the number of nurses will be asked to strike in early February in a bid to increase pressure on the Government.

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen described the Prime Minister's position in their negotiation deadlock as 'baffling, reckless and politically ill-considered' as he 'appears entirely uninterested in finding a way to stop this'.

This comes as ministers push for new laws requiring minimum levels of service on strike days - legislation which is expected to take around six months to pass through Parliament.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is due to be considered again by MPs on Monday.

Nurses in England will return to picket lines on Wednesday and Thursday, accusing the Government of having 'failed to act' after their historic industrial action in December.

The RCN said that, unlike its action in December which involved around a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England, all trusts in Northern Ireland and all but one health board in Wales, this week's strikes will take place in England only.

During its action, the union said a 'life preserving care model' is in place, meaning areas such as critical care units and chemotherapy services are exempt, while in-patient areas are on night-duty staffing levels.

Civil servants are the latest to join the ranks of striking workers, amid growing industrial unrest which has seen stoppages across the country including by ambulance workers, staff on the railways and Border Force staff.

This week will also see London bus workers at Abellio strike on Monday and Thursday.

North of the border, members of the Educational Institute of Scotland will engage in further strike action this week.