A nursing union has offered to "press pause" on strike action - but only if the Health Secretary engages properly in pay talks.
Up to 100,000 NHS staff are expected to walk out on December 15 and 20, sparking a huge health service crisis, as they demand fair pay.
But Royal College of Nurses (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen tonight said she is willing to call off the walkout if Tory Steve Barclay says he will "negotiate seriously".
Mr Barclay's Labour counterpart said it is an offer the government "can't refuse".
Ms Cullen said in a statement: "Negotiate with nurses and avoid this strike. Five times my offer to negotiate has been turned down.
"My members want to be inside the hospital working, not outside protesting. They feel so strongly about being heard that they are prepared to lose a day's pay.
"I will press pause on it when the Health Secretary says he will negotiate seriously on our dispute this year. That means each of us giving some ground.
"He gains nothing by ignoring the representatives of the NHS workforce. The public blames Government for this dire situation and they have to face up to it. A swift change of tactics will pay off for all concerned."
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting called it "an offer the Government can't refuse".
He tweeted that unions had "been clear that there is a deal to be done, but the Government must be prepared to negotiate".
"It's time they put patients before Tory politics," he added.
But the Department of Health appears to have so far rebuffed the latest offer.
A spokesperson said: "NHS workers do an incredible job caring for our loved ones and it is disappointing some will be taking industrial action, ahead of a difficult winter.
"Ministers have had constructive talks with unions, including the RCN and Unison, on how we can make the NHS a better place to work - and have been clear the door remains open for further talks.
"These are extremely challenging times, we have accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full - this means newly qualified nurses have had a 5.5% increase and those on the lowest salaries, such as porters and cleaners, have received a pay rise of up to 9.3%."
