Almost 65 per cent of Unison health members voted to accept the government's offer, worth 8.1 per cent over three years.

But Dame Karlene Davis, general secretary of the RCM said: "We think this is a bad deal for midwives and other NHS staff, because rising inflation and cost of living expenses mean that accepting this deal is accepting a pay cut. Our members overwhelmingly voted against the deal on offer and we will continue to fight for them to get them a better, fairer award.

"Midwives are not asking for riches beyond avarice. They are asking for the government to respect the Independent Pay Review Body decision and to give them a reward that reflects the real cost of living, the real rate of inflation and the real impact on their purses and wallets."

She advised the Prime Minister and his team to: "take a calculator and a trip to the petrol station and the supermarket to understand the real costs that people are paying."