Furious health workers demonstrated outside Bristol Royal Infirmary yesterday against the government's refusal to grant a 1 per cent pay increase across the board.

Health union Unite organised the rally due to concern that pay freezes were part of a campaign to privatise the NHS.

Last week's announcement on pay from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt meant that only those at the top of their pay band will receive the 1 per cent increase - against the advice of the Pay review body.