UNION officials have hailed a historical equal pay ruling which could affect up to a million women workers in the NHS.

Yesterday's decision by a Newcastle employment tribunal that women health workers were discriminated against means that some nurses at the Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust could be in line for backpay totalling £120,000.

Catering assistants covered by the ruling could also receive compensation totalling more than £50,000.

Peter Doyle, Unison regional officer, said: "I think this will affect about one million workers in the health service. It is the end of low pay in the NHS, forever."

Mr Doyle said the Carlisle trust would now have to increase the pay of female health workers so they matched the rates paid to equivalent male workers, and stump up backpay which could total £80m.

A panel of independent experts appointed by the tribunal agreed with the Unison health union that women workers were discriminated against over a six-year period.

The women range from Grade D and Grade C nurses to catering assistants, clerical officers, sewing machine assistants, porters and telephonists. The panel compared their pay with that of craftsmen, joiners, building labourers, wall washers, works officers, craftsmen supervisors and maintenance assistants.

Unison started the action in 1997 and the backdating period covers six years.

The tribunal is due to hold a final hearing in the case in Newcastle, in November.

Unison national secretary Karen Jennings said: "This confirms there has been historic discrimination against women workers in the health service and shows the urgent need for a new pay system."

Ms Jennings said the ruling should support negotiations with the NHS to improve pay rates for health workers.

A spokesman for Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust said he had no comment at this stage.