Nurses at around one in four hospitals across England are on the hook today as the bitter pay dispute with the government continues.
Patients have been warned to expect “widespread disruption” as thousands of appointments and operations are expected to be cancelled.
The 48-hour chaos comes after two separate strikes in December which led to almost 30,000 NHS cancellations across the country.
However, unlike previous union actions, the strikes are limited to England and will not take place in Wales and Northern Ireland.
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The Royal College of Nursing, which is coordinating the action, has called for a 5% pay rise above inflation for nurses.
Although it has informed the government that it will meet halfway.
Ministers have so far refused to negotiate pay and Health Secretary Steve Barclay has warned that extra money for nurses will have to be taken from other parts of the NHS budget.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) were admitted outside Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 18 January
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) were admitted outside Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 18 January
A pay rise of 18.4 per cent – based on the current rate of inflation – would take the average nurse’s salary from £37,000 to £43,800 (red bar). A halfway meeting would increase this to £40,400 (purple bar). The government has insisted that its offer of around 4 per cent, or £1,400, is all it can afford at the moment (blue bar).
The Royal College of Nursing is holding its strikes on 18 and 19 January and 6 and 7 February. It joins Unison on 23 January in five ambulances. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is also engaged in strike action on 26 January and 9 February
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chief executive Pat Cullen (pictured) said today: “People are not dying because nurses are on strike. “Today’s record number of vacancies cannot get worse. Pay nurses fairly to reverse this and give the public the care they deserve.
The union says the increase is necessary to deal with a decade of wage erosion.
A pay rise of 18.4 per cent – based on the current rate of inflation – would increase the average nurse’s salary from £37,000 to £43,800.
A halfway meeting would increase this to £40,400.
The government has insisted that its offer of around 4 per cent, or £1,400, is all it can afford at the moment.
The deal, awarded last year, was backed by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.
But the union says the system introduced under Margaret Thatcher is “outdated” and “doesn’t work for nurses”.
Discussions about the next payout round are already underway.
RCN boss Pat Cullen said: “People are not dying because nurses are on strike.
“Today’s record number of vacancies cannot get worse.
“Pay caregivers fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve.”
answer now
Mr Barclay wrote in the Independent: “Priceless pay rises for NHS workers will take billions of pounds away from where we need them most.
“Prohibitive wage increases mean reducing patient care and fueling inflation that would impoverish us all.”
Dorset County Hospital bosses have asked families to ease the pressure to strike by supporting patients, for example by helping them with meals so staff can focus on clinical work.
An NHS trust yesterday offered nurses £40 an hour to cover strikes.
GPs will not be affected as nurses in NHS practices are not involved in the strike.
Up to 100,000 nurses went on strike on 15-20 December in the first nationwide strike in the RCN’s 106-year history.
As a result, nearly 30,000 operations and appointments were canceled across the country.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
