Nurses in Half of England's NHS Trusts Go on Strike Over Pay and Staff Shortages

Nurses in Half of England's NHS Trusts Go on Strike Over Pay and Staff Shortages

Nurses in Half of England's NHS Trusts Go on Strike Over Pay and Staff Shortages

Nurses from half of England's NHS trusts went on strike to demand better pay and working conditions.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) strike affects areas such as intensive care, chemotherapy, and dialysis - services that have previously been excluded from strike action. Ministers have said the strike would be very disruptive, and NHS England has warned patients to expect "disruptions and delays to services over the strike period".

A Major Strike with a Wider Impact

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The strike will last until midnight on Monday, and it is the third this year in a dispute over pay, recruitment, and retention in the NHS. Members of the Unite union at some NHS trusts and ambulance services in England are also taking part in strike action on Monday and Tuesday, after voting to reject the latest pay offer.

The RCN has said exemptions are being made where hospitals are struggling to maintain life-preserving care. "Our nursing staff will be back in this morning, whilst on strike, continuing to care for their patients," RCN leader Pat Cullen told BBC Breakfast. All hospitals have been guaranteed a minimum level of cover for intensive care and trauma.

A quarter of trusts involved in the strike have been given extra exemptions for services such as transplant and cardiac care - to allow them to call some striking nurses in because they have not been able to find other staff to fill the rotas. This is to ensure a minimal level of cover - not normal staffing - as the RCN has to abide by trade union rules to ensure life-and-limb care can be provided during a walkout.

Doctor Jacob Mushlin, an accident and emergency consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said the absence of nurses would create delays and lower the standard of treatment at his hospital and across the country. "The nurses provide a vital service and one that can't be replaced by other members of staff," he said. "We're going to find that we're going to be unable to provide anything other than life or limb preserving care."

The UK Government's Pay Offer is Deemed Low for Nurses

This latest strike comes ahead of a crucial meeting between a number of health unions, ministers, and NHS bosses on Tuesday, when the government's pay offer of 5% will be discussed. The RCN previously rejected the government's pay offer and announced this new strike in response.

The government's pay offer to nurses in England is a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year's salary, depending on staff grade. RCN leadership had recommended members accept the offer but it was rejected by 54% to 46%.

Pay and Staff Shortages Are The Main Reasons Behind the Strike

The RCN strike is about more than just pay. It is also about staff shortages in the NHS, which nurses say are making it impossible for them to provide safe, high-quality care to patients. In recent years, the NHS has been struggling to recruit and retain enough nurses, with many leaving the profession due to burnout, stress, and low pay.

According to the RCN, there are currently 50,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS in England, and that this number is expected to rise to 100,000 by the end of the year. This has led to concerns over patient safety and the ability of the NHS to provide high-quality care. The shortage of nurses is a long-standing issue, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem.

Nurses have been working under immense pressure and many have left the profession or taken early retirement due to burnout and stress.

The RCN has been campaigning for better pay and working conditions for nurses in the NHS to address the recruitment and retention crisis. The government's offer of a 5% pay rise for nurses in England has been rejected by the RCN, which is demanding a pay increase of at least 12.5%.

Nurses have been undervalued and underpaid for too long, leading to a major recruitment and retention crisis. Many nurses are leaving the NHS to work in other countries or sectors where pay and working conditions are better.

Renewed Calls for the UK Government To Act Now

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The strike by nurses in England is a clear indication of the depth of feeling among nursing staff about the need for better pay and working conditions. It follows a similar strike in Scotland earlier this year, which was also called over the issue of pay.

The government and NHS leaders have criticized the strike, warning that patient safety will be put at risk. However, the RCN has insisted that patient safety is its top priority, and that exemptions are being made where hospitals are struggling to maintain life-preserving care.

Rishi Sunak's government and NHS leaders need to take the concerns of nurses seriously and work with the RCN to address the recruitment and retention crisis. Nurses are the backbone of the NHS, and they deserve to be valued, supported and rewarded for the vital work they do.

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Fabrice Beaux

Business Expert

Fabrice Beaux is CEO and Founder of InsterHyve Systems Genève-based managed IT service provider. They provide the latest and customized IT Solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.

   
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