Nurses and other women health workers could be in line for massive pay increases following an "historic" equal pay ruling.

Unions claim the ruling could see the salary of a Grade D nurse rise by nearly 49%, an increase of �8,600, to �26,293.

A panel of experts appointed by an employment tribunal considered equal pay claims by nursing and ancillary staff, comparing their wages with those of male builders working in the health service.

The experts decided the work of each group of employees was of equal value.

'Years of discrimination'

Karen Jennings, of the public service union Unison said:"This confirms that there has been historic discrimination against women workers in the health service, and it shows the urgent need for a new pay system.

"The panel of independent experts have confirmed our view that these women workers have been discriminated against for years.

"We have always argued that they have been underpaid and unfairly paid compared to men, and the independent experts agree.

"We expect that further reports on other groups of workers will support our claims in the same way."

The ruling could cost the NHS millions of pounds and carries huge implications for the pay structure in the health service, union officials said.

More cases

The union lodged equal pay claims on behalf of nurses, catering assistants, clerical officers, sewing machinists, porters and telephonists at hospitals in the Carlisle area.

The claim compared their pay with that of craftsmen, joiners, building labourers and maintenance assistants employed by the NHS in the same region.

The panel of experts appointed by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne tribunal found the work of every applicant was of equal value to those whose pay they were compared with, said Unison.

Unison first lodged the claim in 1997 and said it had further cases in the pipeline.

The tribunal will consider the panel's findings later in the year.