TWO of the region's health trusts have been chosen to test the Government's pay modernisation strategy.

As part of the deal, staff working for the North-East Ambulance Service and City Hospitals Sunderland are in line for an average pay rise of 12.5 per cent over the next three years.

The trusts, which between them employ thousands of health workers, are among 12 sites in England and Wales selected by the Government, health service employers and the unions.

The decision to begin testing the Agenda For Change pay system was taken after members of the Unison health union at the chosen trusts voted in favour of the proposals.

In a statement, unions, employers' representatives and health departments said: "Modernising the NHS pay system is important, not only to ensure staff are rewarded fairly for what they do, but to help deliver fast, modern services for patients."

The aim is to break down old-fashioned job demarcations and devise a fair pay system based on a national job evaluation scheme.

Liz Twist, Unison's regional head of health, said: "This decision is of critical importance to the future of the NHS and its staff.

"Our members have chosen to put Agenda for Change to the test to see how it will work in practice before deciding whether to extend it across the NHS.

"A lot of work has been done by Unison to get the information across to members, but the impetus is now firmly on the Government to ensure that it keeps its promises and sorts out any anomalies raised by the pilot sites before we put it to the test again.

"Finally, the decision will allow health service members to get their pay rise in their pockets as soon as possible."