Nurses strike: the ‘war’ between unions and the government continues

As nurses have staged more strikes in England to commence in the next two days, patients have been warned to expect major disruptions to services.

Today, nurses have once again hit the picket line, following the two strike days before Christmas over a major pay dispute. Nurses are also set to engage in walkouts tomorrow.

It has been estimated that around one in every four hospitals and community services will be affected, with disruption being cast the most over pre-booked treatments such as, hernia repair, hip replacements or outpatient clinics.

However, to remain in accordance with trade union laws, emergency care will be covered during the strikes, which are set to occur from 8:00 to 20:00. This means services such as chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and intensive care will be provided.

GP practices are also expected to run as normal.

As well as walkouts taking place over the next two days, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have announced two more dates for strike action next month. These will be the biggest yet.

After the government failed to consider giving nurses a 10% pay rise, the RCN declared that strikes would get bigger to apply more pressure on the government – walkouts in February will impact a third of NHS trusts in England and all but one Welsh health board affected.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, has warned the lack of pay deals means patients will continue to face the effects of a ‘prolonged war of attrition between the government and the unions.’

‘We’ve been saying for weeks that the strike action couldn’t have come at a more difficult time for the NHS,’ Mr Taylor told the PA news agency. ‘But we hoped a compromise would be reached by now to bring an end to the impasse.’

Photo by Khyta