Government refuses to budge on nurses’ pay, despite historic strikes
Posted 16 December 2022 - 13:07
As thousands of nurses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland took to picket lines, the government says it has ‘no plans’ to revisit NHS pay deal
Picture: John Houlihan
The government is continuing to refuse to negotiate on nurses’ pay despite the historic walk out by members of the RCN yesterday.
Thousands of nursing staff took to picket lines on Thursday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over concerns about safe staffing and the cost-of-living for nurses.
Some Tory MPs joins calls to negotiate, but government has ‘no plans’ to revisit NHS pay deal
While nurses staged a momentous 12-hour walk out, health and social care secretary Steve Barclay visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where he said: ‘Our nurses do a hugely important job and I deeply regret that a number of nurses are striking today.’
But with the government standing firm that it has ‘no plans’ to revisit the pay deal for NHS staff, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen told BBC Question Time that strike action could ramp up.
She said: ‘As time moves on – unfortunately if this government doesn’t speak to us and doesn’t get into a room – I’m afraid that this will escalate.’
Some Tory MPs joined calls to start pay negotiations with the RCN, including Steve Brine MP, former conservative party chairman Sir Jake Berry and Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
Poll shows strong public support for nurse strike action
While an estimated 70,000 appointments and procedures were cancelled in England due to the action, a YouGov poll of around 5,000 people showed two thirds (64%) of the public support or strongly support the strike action.
Yesterday celebrities, including comedian Sue Perkins, sports presenter Gary Lineker and Derry Girls’ actor Siobhan McSweeney, all tweeted their support for industrial action, while comedian Rob Delaney joined nurses on the picket line at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Chief nursing officer Dame Ruth May also joined nurses outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Nurses plan to hold a second day of strike action on Tuesday 20 December, with further dates expected to be announced in the new year.
‘On a bitterly cold day, the public warmth towards nursing staff was immense’
Ms Cullen praised nurses for their display of professionalism and integrity and said ministers were now under ‘fresh pressure from unexpected places’, including their own MPs, NHS leaders and a former chair of the NHS Pay Review Body.
‘Each of these groups, for different reasons, wants the government to stop hiding behind its current fig leaf,’ she said.
‘On a bitterly cold day, the public warmth towards nursing staff was immense. For my members, this has been about professional pride, not personal hardship – speaking up for nursing, patients and the future of the NHS.’
The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.
In other news
- Nurses’ strike: all the news from today’s picket lines
- First major nurses’ strike in NHS history starts today
- Nurses’ pay must take priority in Scottish budget, RCN says