Thousands of nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland went on strike for 12 hours to protest wage increases.
The nurses’ strike is the largest in NHS history, involving about a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England, as well as every foundation in Northern Ireland and all but one health authority in Wales.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said about 70,000 appointments, procedures and operations would be lost in England as a result of the strike. Thousands more will be affected in Northern Ireland and Wales.
When do nurses strike?
First Nurses’ Strike Thursday 15.12with the RCN saying that up to 100,000 members are expected to leave.
Then another day of action follows Tuesday, December 20. Strikes last 12 hours, on both days from 8 am to 8 pm.
Why are the nurses on strike?
RCN reported that since 2010 real wages for nurses have fallen by 20 percent. There are also record positions for nurses, with 25,000 nurses leaving the roster last year.
Nurses are demanding wage increases 5 percent above inflation and better working conditions amid a severe shortage of staff.
This is a 19.2 percent pay rise that the government says is unaffordable. The strikes continued before talks broke down on Monday when Health Secretary Steve Barclay refused to talk about wages.
The government has said it will continue to consider issues not related to wages.
During the prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak accused him of falling into “hibernation” rather than working to call off Thursday’s strike.
He said that all Prime Minister Sunak had to do to prevent the strikes was to “open the door and talk to them about the reward.”
Mr. Sunak emphasized that his government has “consistently spoken to all trade unions involved in all wage disputes” and said he supported the recommendations of the Independent Wage Review Body.
There is some controversy among nurses about the strike, with some calling the action “morally wrong” and others arguing that patients need to be protected from “exceptionally bad service”.
Sarah Jane Palmer, a London-based nurse and writer, told the PA she is against strikes: “My main argument is a moral argument. It’s a moral obligation not to abandon your patients in the name of demanding higher wages.”
However, many nurses who support the strike say the union’s proposed action is not just about money.
Debbie, a nurse from North West England whose name has been changed, said: “I never worked as a nurse for money, whoever wants money doesn’t go into nursing.
“I’m not on strike for money. I stand up for those who receive exceptionally bad services in the NHS.
“I feel like your health is at risk now that you are in the hospital. There are not enough nurses to take care of people. things are missing.”
In Scotland, RCN members are being consulted on the Scottish government’s revised salary proposal.
How much are carers paid?
NHS payments are made on a band system introduced in 2004.
The newly qualified nurse starts at volume five and earns £27,055 a year in England, or slightly more in London. Most nurses work in Groups 5 and 6, with Groups 7 and above in leadership positions.
The RCN estimates that the average salary for an NHS nurse is around £34,000.
Here is the current banding scale:
- Volume 5 – £27,055 to £32,934
- Tire 6 – £33,706 to £40,588
- Volume 7 – £41,659 to £47,672
Nurses.co.uk reports: “Newly qualified NHS Nurse Level 5 now earns £27,055.
“The vast majority of nurses, once qualified, will work for the NHS, but it is possible to join a private organization.
“Wages are not regulated here, but as a starting wage, you probably get a similar or slightly higher wage.
“The Royal College of Nursing estimates in 2021 that the average annual salary for an NHS nurse is £33,384. The pay raise introduced in the NHS in 2022 means the average is now likely closer to £35,000.
Which NHS trusts are affected?
Striking nurses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Below is the full list of NHS trusts on strike in each region, according to the RCN website, which also includes an interactive map:
East Midlands
- Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
- Northamptonshire Health Trust NHS Foundation Trust
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Nottinghamshire Health Trust NHS Foundation Trust
East
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
- Cambridgeshire Public Services NHS Trust
- Hertfordshire NHS Community Trust
- NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London
- Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Guy and St. Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
- Imperial College of Health NHS Trust
- NHS North Central London ICB
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
northwest
- Children’s NHS Alder Hey Trust
- Liverpool NHS Heart and Chest Hospital gains credibility
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Clatterbridge NHS Cancer Center gains credibility
- Walton Center NHS Foundation
North
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Southeast
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
southwest
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bath NHS, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB (combined BSW)
- NHS Devon ICB (Devon)
- NHS Gloucestershire ICB (one Gloucestershire)
- North Bristol NHS Trust
- Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Healthcare Trust
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- Bristol University Hospitals and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- Plymouth University Hospitals NHS Trust
western middle earth
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
- Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Health and Care Trust
- NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB (BSol ICB)
- Royal Orthopedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Birmingham Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Worcestershire Emergency Hospitals NHS Trust
Yorkshire and the Humber
- Bradford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Leeds Public Health NHS Trust
- Leeds University Hospitals NHS Trust
National employers
- Health education in England
- National Health Service England
Northern Ireland
- Belfast Health and Welfare Trust
- Northern Health and Welfare Fund
- Western Health and Welfare Foundation
- Southern dependency on health care and social assistance
- Southeastern Health and Welfare Fund
- Practice and Education Council for Northern Ireland
- organization of business services
- Quality improvement regulation and authority
- Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
- Public Health Authority
- Northern Ireland Ambulance Service
Wales
- Cardiff and Vail University Health Board
- Powys teaches at the local health department
- NHS Trust Headquarters in Wales
- Hywel Dda University Board of Health
- Swansea Bay University Board of Health
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
- Betsy Cadwaladr University Local Health Authority
- Velindre NHS Trust
- Public Health Wales
- Health education and health promotion Health Wales Authority
- Wales NHS Shared Services Partnership
- Digital Health & Care Wales
What will be the effect?
Health Minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News: “Cancer operations will be stopped at these 44 trusts in England. We estimate that around 70,000 visits, procedures and surgeries will be lost.”
The health service will operate in celebratory style in many areas, although the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced that it will remain staffed for chemotherapy, emergency oncology, dialysis, intensive care units, neonatal and pediatric intensive care.
Certain areas of mental health, learning disabilities, and autism treatment services are also tax-exempt, while foundations have been told they can request staff for specific clinical needs.
When it comes to ER and adult emergency care, nurses work Christmas-style schedules.
Pickets were placed at dozens of hospitals. The main trusts involved include the Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust in London, Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge and Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Saffron Corderi, acting director of NHS Providers, said the NHS trusts are “going out of their way” to reduce the impact on patients.
She added: “The cold spell boosted demand that was already at or close to record levels, but on the day of the strike, NHS funds will do their best to ensure essential services are well staffed and patient safety always comes first. saves.”
Do they get a raise?
RCN Chief Executive Pat Cullen accused Health Secretary Steve Barclay of being “aggressive” after he refused to discuss wages.
He said the government was following the recommendations of the independent pay review panel, which said nurses should receive a pay raise of around £1,400.
Ms Cullen said on Thursday morning there was “nothing independent” in the independent wage review board process as she hinted that there could be strikes in the future.
“This is a tragic day for nurses, a tragic day for patients… and it’s a tragic day for people in the community and for our National Health Service,” she told BBC Breakfast.
“And it’s a tragedy that this government decided not to talk to us, not to talk to us, to enter the room on the first day of the strike, so we’re here today.”
She said the nurses are demanding a refund of “the 20 percent that has been eroded in our nurses’ pay over the last decade,” adding that “hundreds of nurses” are leaving the profession every day.
She said that Mr. Barclay told her that she could talk about anything but “the pay – it won’t solve anything.” What he will do is continue such days.”
Ms. Cullen said the independent payroll agency was “created by the government, paid for by the government, appointed by the government, and the parameters of the paycheck are set by the government, so there’s nothing independent about it, so they came up with 3 percent, which is what they came up with.”
“There is nothing independent about an independent payroll body – that can be taken by the government, but not by the Royal College of Nursing.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.