DOCTORS and nurses would be paid less in the North than in the South under shock Conservative plans, it was claimed yesterday.

The Government and union leaders raised the alarm over a Tory move to set NHS pay according to “what is necessary to recruit, retain and motivate the staff, and what is affordable for local healthcare providers”.

They said the comment, by Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley, paved the way for an end to nationally-set pay rates – and lower earnings in the North, where staff shortages were less likely.

Worse, doctors and nurses would be tempted to desert hospitals in the North if they were offered higher salaries in London and the South- East.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: “Andrew Lansley may think it’s acceptable to pay nurses in the North less than those in the South, but I don’t. National pay agreements are not only fair to all, they also bring real stability to the NHS.”

That message was echoed by Unison, the public service union.

Karen Jennings, the union’s head of health, said: “No wonder staff doubt Tory claims that the NHS is safe in their hands. Staff in short supply would go to the highest bidder, and essential staff would be undervalued.”

The row flared up after Mr Lansley gave an interview which hinted at a future pay freeze for doctors and nurses by ruling out “inflationary staff costs”.

However, an aide also revealed that the Conservatives would allow NHS employers to agree pay deals, either working together or individually, suggesting competition between hospitals.

He said: “Employers could decide to do it locally, that’s possible. But we don’t think it will lead to hospitals cutting pay in some areas, because they want to get, and keep, the best people.”

In the interview, Mr Lansley said: “Future NHS allocations will not be able to accommodate inflationary staff costs.

“In these times of increasing financial pressure, we need to ensure that we move to a situation where pay is instead defined by what is necessary to recruit, retain and motivate the staff, and also what is affordable for local healthcare providers.”

Although nurses’ pay has risen under Labour, starting salaries are only £20,710. The majority are on band five, where pay goes up to £26,839.