Steve Barclay will tonight meet the boss of the nurses union which is organizing historic NHS-wide strikes this winter after union action in Scotland was called off.
The under-fire health minister is running out of time to stave off devastating measures as up to 100,000 medics are expected to be in the spotlight on Thursday.
The Royal College of Nursing, the union planning the strikes, wants its members to receive an inflation-busting 19 per cent rise. But it has already indicated it could accept a lower offer if ministers are willing to reach a last-minute deal.
A spokesman for the RCN said they would attend “in the hope that the government will now begin serious negotiations”.
Steve Barclay (right) will tonight meet the boss of the nurses’ union, which has staged historic NHS-wide strikes. RCN chief Pat Cullen (left) said the government’s door was “tightly shut” while hers was “wide open”.
This chart shows the Royal College of Nursing’s calls for a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation for the groups covered by its membership, including nursing assistants and nurses. Estimates based on data from NHS employers
However, Downing Street claimed that Mr Barclay – who attended a Cobra meeting today to discuss contingency plans to protect patients during upcoming NHS strikes – had no intention of discussing wages.
Mr Barclay has met with union officials only a few times since the November 9 strike.
The RCN previously accused the health secretary of “bullying tactics” and said he was not prepared to negotiate.
RCN chief Pat Cullen said the government’s door was “tightly shut” while hers was “wide open”.
Labor today said Barclay’s handling of the negotiations was a “complete joke” and that it would be his fault if the strikes continued.
Shadow Secretary Wes Streeting said his peer should be ashamed of the way he spoke, arguing the government was trying to scapegoat underpaid nurses.
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems said the health secretary should get almost half his salary because it is “in his hands” and “nothing works in the department”.
Although Barclay was under pressure to resolve the crisis, even the government’s opposition said the unions’ wage demands were unrealistic.
Sir Keir Starmer today declared the union’s demands for a 19 per cent pay rise unaffordable.
The winter of NHS strikes began in Northern Ireland today as thousands of workers braved freezing temperatures from midnight to protest their pay.
The next strike – organized by the RCN – is scheduled for Thursday, with 76 trusts and health organizations expected to be affected by strikes.
On December 21 and 28, ambulance workers will have their biggest union action in England in 30 years.
To combat strike action, army troops will begin emergency training this week so they can step in and drive ambulances for non-emergency calls.
Two unions in Scotland today announced that strikes have been called off altogether after members voted in favor of a new deal.
Following negotiations with Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and the intervention of Nicola Sturgeon, the new deal means NHS staff in Scotland will receive a pay rise of at least £2,200 a year.
For the low paid, it would be an increase of 11.3 percent, with an average increase of 7.5 percent.
Other unions representing workers in Scotland have yet to make a decision.
Unite claimed it showed strikes “could be avoided if ministers joined the talks”.
The RCN and the British Medical Association (BMA) are targeting increases of 19 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.
Ms Cullen this morning reiterated her offer to Mr Barclay to prevent strike action.
This map shows the hospitals where the Royal College of Nursing will hold its first pay strikes on Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December
She told Good Morning Britain: “If he comes to the table with us and has realistic, honest talks, there’s a good chance we can fend off the strikes and move the negotiations forward.”
Her offer came after she indicated the RCN could accept a lower pay rise.
She told the BBC yesterday that nurses are not “greedy” and will not “give in” to demands.
Will Quince, Mr Barclay’s deputy, said the government was “deeply concerned” about the risks strikes posed to patients.
He was answering an urgent question in the House of Commons because Mr Barclay was stuck in the Cobra session.
Quince called the strikes “unnecessary and unjustified” and said they were “in nobody’s interest”.
He said: “It is inevitable that treatment will be delayed for some patients with each strike.
“We have had constructive discussions with the leadership of various unions, including RCN, Unison, Unite and GMB.
“And we look forward to further discussions to jointly find a path that is in the best interest of the patients we all serve.”
Senior NHS officials have warned that lives are at risk from the strikes, which could also hamper efforts to reduce waiting lists ahead of an expected new wave of Covid this winter.
The latest NHS data shows that more than 7.2 million patients in England were stuck in elective care backlogs in October – or one in eight people.
They are waiting for appointments such as knee or hip replacements and a total of more than 400,000 people have been queuing for at least a year, often in pain.
Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said care would be “disrupted” if thousands of operations were cancelled.
The health care system is already under pressure from an increase in admissions for flu and other seasonal illnesses during what is generally the busiest time of the year.
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson told reporters that Mr. Barclay was ready to speak to nurses after Ms Cullen said the government door was “tightly shut” while hers was “wide open”.
He said: “I think he has made it clear that he is always ready to meet the Royal College of Nursing.”
Asked if he was willing to talk to the union about pay, the official said: “The position on pay has not changed – it rightly needs an independent review body to decide.”
An RCN spokesman said: “We have responded positively to his email and will be present in the hope that the Government will now begin serious negotiations.”
A meeting of Cobra – the government’s emergency committee – is apparently underway.
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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.
