Paddy McGuinness joins striking NHS nurses on picket line

Paddy McGuinness showed his support for striking NHS nurses when he joined them on the picket line at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on Thursday.

The comedian, 49, was seen holding up a sign meant for passing motorists reading “honk your horn if you support fair pay for nursing” as he posed for photographs with members of the Royal College of Nursing.

As the nurses struggled to stay warm in the bitterly cold temperatures, Top Gear presenter Paddy arrived with much-needed boxes of hand warmers, food and bouquets of flowers to show his appreciation.

Sue Middleton, lead mental health nurse at Alder Hey, said they were surprised and excited to see him.

She said: ‘We’ve had so many people come and join us today, bringing food and hot drinks.

‘The support has been overwhelming and having Paddy here was fantastic.

“He was charming, posing for selfies with nurses and waving the union sign. He said that he is with us all the way.

Some picketers took to Twitter to express their gratitude for Paddy’s visit.

One person wrote: ‘Thank you for all the love and support we have received on picket lines and on social media today! I never thought when I became a nurse that I would go on strike! The mince pies were lovely! #patientsafety #SafeStaffingSavesLives #FairPayforNursing #RCNStrike.’

Another person wrote: ‘@PaddyMcGuinness Thank you for showing your support for the @RCN staff at @AlderHey today. Coco the dog loved it.

While someone else posted: ‘Bad angle but bragging rights, cheers @PaddyMcGuinness. Paddy left food and flowers #NursesStrike #FairPayforNursing #SafeStaffingSavesLives.’

Up to 100,000 doctors walked out of their jobs today in the biggest strike in NHS history.

Nurses demanding better pay braved minus 8C temperatures and snow to bolster pickets outside ailing hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A level of service was provided on Christmas Day at dozens of affected hospitals, causing major disruption across the country and canceling tens of thousands of appointments and operations.

The dispute is over pay and working conditions, with the RCN demanding a 5 percent wage increase above RPI inflation, equivalent to a 19 percent increase.

However, he has indicated that he would accept a lower offer.

So far the government has refused to negotiate wages and has stood by its offer of around 4 per cent, or £1,400, which is backed by its independent NHS wage review body.

But the union says the system, which was established under Margaret Thatcher, is “outdated” and “doesn’t work for nurses”.

Today marks the first day of industrial action among nurses, with a second set due on December 20.

The union is also expected to announce more dates for January, unless an agreement is reached with the government. That action could cause even more disruption for patients.

Health leaders have urged the sick to still come forward as the NHS “is open” but admitted they are “concerned about the risk strikes pose to patients”.