Striking nurses accused of risking patient lives as thousands of staff in HALF of England’s hospitals, mental health and community services stage a 28-hour strike – leaving minimal numbers of workers in intensive care and trauma units
Nurses have been accused of risking patients’ lives during today’s strike.
Thousands of nursing staff in half of England’s hospitals, mental health services and community services went on a 28-hour strike last night.
Last-minute talks between the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and NHS England agreed to ‘protect life and limb services’ with the union allowing nurses to provide a minimum level of staffing in intensive care and trauma.
But NHS England told patients to expect major ‘disruptions and delays to services’, with nurses in emergency, intensive care and cancer care being allowed to walk out for the first time.
Head nurse Dame Ruth May said: ‘These measures do not mean a return to standard staff.
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen (pictured) said on Sunday measures had been taken to protect patients after concerns were raised about the impact of the strike on emergency services
Most RCN members will strike until 11:59pm tonight, despite some receiving WhatsApp messages from hospital bosses offering up to a quadruple of their normal hourly rate (photo: previous protest in April)
“The union action will continue to have a very significant impact on services during the strike period and patients can expect longer waiting times for care.
‘The public should use the NHS wisely, with those requiring non-emergency care using pharmacies and 111 online as their first port of call.’
The strike began at 8 p.m. yesterday and will end at midnight, following a court ruling that a second day of action would be illegal.
Doctors are being encouraged by the British Medical Association to join nurses on the picket lines, with the number of rescheduled appointments from all strikes expected to reach half a million this week.
Danny Mortimer, CEO of NHS Employers, which represents hospitals, said he was ‘deeply concerned’ about the impact of strikes on hospital services.
He said: ‘I think this will be the strike with the greatest impact of all the strikes we’ve seen in the last six months.
‘There are real concerns about the risks for patients. The RCN has responded to requests made to them to encourage staff in certain areas – our areas caring for our sickest patients.
‘That is indeed very welcome and that will make the difference. But we are very concerned about the impact it will have.’
There will be a meeting tomorrow between ministers, unions and NHS leaders, where a 5 per cent wage deal is expected to be offered to NHS staff in England, which will be accepted by the majority of unions.
Ministers accused the RCN of ‘disrespecting’ other unions by continuing today’s strike and encouraged members to accept the pay deal.
RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said last night that the impact of the nurses’ strikes “will be felt for generations to come.”
She vowed to ‘defend our patients and our NHS for as long as it takes’.
Striking NHS workers are holding a protest march in London today.
Unite said the demonstration will pass parliament and head to Trafalgar Square.