Nurses biggest walkout in history has begun

Today, nurses across the UK have ditched painkillers for the picket line as the first walkout over pay disputes has started.

Overall, around a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England and nearly all those in Northern Ireland and Wales will see nurses walkout for their biggest strike in history. In total, more than 70 NHS organisations will see strike action.  

Pat Cullen, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCM) told the BBC, today is a ‘tragic’ day for nursing, patients, society, and the NHS. She added that it’s shocking the ‘government has decided not to speak to us, get into a room and avert these strikes.’

The RCM are calling for a 5% pay rise above the current inflation rate which stands at 14%. This means the institution is asking for more than a 19% increase, although the government have already deemed ‘unaffordable’.

Due to soaring costs, Health Minister Maria Caulfield has sympathised with nurses claiming it is difficult to live on their wage, which starts at £27K, but has called demands for their pay rise ‘unrealistic’.

Despite staff striking, emergency care will continue to be provided. GP services will remain unaffected as nurses working in practices were not entitled to take part in the ballot launched by the RCM.

The strike ballot was sent to 300,000 RCN members – representing around two-thirds of the nurse workforce. The RCM called strikes in Northern Ireland in 2019 and early 2020, but never before in other parts of the UK.

Health professionals have reassured the public that A&E will still be operating just with longer wait times and in a letter to NHS bosses earlier this month, the RCN confirmed chemotherapy and intensive care services will not be hit by the strike action.

However, routine services which include planned operations, community nurses services and health visiting are all expected to be badly affected.

The strike occurring today is the first of two day-long walkouts, with the second scheduled for the 20^th December.

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona