Strikes are a feature of 2022 as unions take action over wage and working conditions disputes amid a cost-of-living crisis.
After significant disruptions over the Christmas period, the strikes continue into the New Year and Rishi Sunak is reportedly drafting tough new laws to limit their impact.
Nurses have called the largest strike in the history of the National Health Service after the prime minister refused to meet wage demands.
Here’s everything you need to know about NHS strikes, from dates to affected services.
When are the nurses on strike?
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) dropped a dispute over wages and patient safety in December and will go on strike again. Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 January.
The strike is for the safety of patients, which means that some nurses will continue to take action. Waivers—an exemption granted to a member or service from going on strike—were issued to allow actions to follow the RCN’s “life-saving model”.
RCN said: “Patient safety is always of paramount importance. Unlike many other sectors, some nurses continue to work during the strike. This is carefully negotiated with employers in advance to ensure patient safety.
Where is the strike?
The following trusts have reached the voting threshold for going on strike:
East Midlands
- NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB (Joined Up Care Derbyshire)
- Derbyshire Health Trust NHS Foundation Trust
- Derbyshire Public Health Service NHS Foundation Trust
East
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Public Health and Nursing Norfolk NHS Trust
- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Central & South Essex ICB
- NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB
London
- Hounslow and Richmond Public Health NHS Trust
- St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS South West London ICB
northwest
- Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- The Wrightington Foundation, Wigan and Lee NHS Foundation Trust
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Middle Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Public Health Bridgewater NHS Foundation Trust
- Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB
- St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria ICB
- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
North
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- CSU Northern England (NECS)
Southeast
- Kent Community Health Foundation Trust
- East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Kent and Medway ICB
- NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB
- NHS Southern Health Fund Trust
- Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
southwest
- Cornish Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Dorset Health University NHS Foundation Trust
- Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
- Teaching Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Hospitals of Cornwall NHS Trust
- NHS Dorset ICB (Our Dorset)
western middle earth
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Shropshire Public Health NHS Trust
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust
- NHS Black Country ICB
- Midlands and Lancashire CSU
Yorkshire and the Humber
- Sheffield Health and Welfare Trust NHS Foundation Trust
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Sheffield Children’s Fund Trust
- NHS West Yorkshire ICB
When is the ambulance on strike?
The emergency services, represented by Unison, left on Wednesday, January 11, and will do it again. Monday, January 23.
Services in London, Yorkshire, North West, North East and South West are affected.
The strikes in January will last 24 hours from midnight and will affect all ambulance workers, not just the 999 first responders, Unison said.
An agreement has been reached that no more than half of the staff will be allowed to strike at any one time to ensure that the biggest challenges are met, London Ambulance Service (LAS) CEO Daniel Elkeles said.
The LAS aims to respond “normally” to stroke and heart attack calls, but the public has been warned not to call 999 except in life-threatening emergencies.
“The NHS is still very busy and the hospitals are very, very busy, so I would ask the public to get back to being very helpful tomorrow and only call us in case of a life-threatening emergency,” said Mr. n Elkeles.
“And if they have other emergency needs, use 111 by phone or online.
“But we understand that if you are a patient with a life-threatening emergency, we can respond normally tomorrow.”
Why are the nurses on strike?
RCN writes on its website: “Unjustifiably low wages in our profession lead to chronic underemployment. This puts patients at risk and causes caregivers to be overworked, underpaid and undervalued.”
RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen suggested that the union agree to a 10 percent pay rise this year after saying he could satisfy ministers “halfway through” the government’s rejected 19 percent demand, but the government refused.
Government sources have made it clear that the negotiation proposal can only concern next year’s salary review, as the settlement for the current year has already been completed.
During a visit to a school in London last week, the prime minister was asked if talks with union leaders would include “this year’s salary.”
He replied: “We said we wanted to have a mature and honest conversation with all trade union leaders about what is responsible, fair and affordable for our country in terms of pay.
“We believe that these negotiations should take place. That’s why we invited everyone to these talks on Monday and I’m sure that these talks can be constructive and that we can get through it.”
Asked if he could go a little further with his offer for a nurse’s salary, after Ms Cullen’s comments about the “halfway” meeting, Mr Sunak said: “We’ve always made it clear we want a two-way conversation with union leaders.
“So the government, all the departments have written, written to all their unions and invited them to talks on Monday so that we can have these talks about what is available, what is fair and what is responsible for our country.”
He added: “I think everyone will agree that the number one economic priority is to lower the cost of living, and controlling inflation is the best way to lower the cost of living, not just for nurses. but for everyone.
“So, earlier this week, I made five promises about what I wanted to do, which was to halve inflation, let the economy grow, cut debt, cut waiting lists, and stop boats.”
Downing Street sources said Mr Sunak was referring to the salary review for the 2023-24 financial year.
But RCN said this year’s deal was paid out to members only recently. The RCN spokesman added: “As at the end of last year, we will always meet with the Minister of Health to discuss issues.
“But negotiating wages for the current year, not next year, is what we need in order to cancel the strike this month.”
Why are doctors on strike?
Rescue services are on strike over wages and personnel.
Unison leaders say the move is a direct result of the government’s refusal to negotiate wages, but wants to wait until the next pay review for the 2023-23 financial year.
Unison General Secretary Christina McKaney said, “Only through negotiation can this dispute be brought to an end. Medical workers do not want to strike again.
“Speeding up the wage review process for next year will not resolve the ongoing dispute over the pitiful amount of money the government has paid out to healthcare workers this year.
“The government must stop using the Wage Review Board as a cover for its own inaction. This year’s pay rise simply wasn’t enough to stem the exodus of NHS workers.
“The government should correct this mistake by increasing it more in line with inflation. Only then will the vacancy rate drop and allow the NHS to get back on track and start providing safe patient care.”
Health Minister Steve Barclay said: “Further pay increases will mean money being taken away from frontline services as we grapple with record waiting lists due to the pandemic.”
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.