Nurses’ strike: I chose not to act before, this time is different

RCN Nurses of the Year say they will vote for industrial action after years of NHS funding and staffing issues – and urge colleagues to stand up for pay and patients

Thousands of NHS nurses face a stark choice in the coming weeks, with RCN members being balloted on industrial action that is designed to ramp up pressure for better pay.

Here, RCN Nurse of the Year 2021 Nicola Bailey explains why she believes she was wrong when she refused to strike two years ago in Northern Ireland, but first her Nurse of the Year predecessor Ana Waddington urges fellow nurses to use their votes if they are RCN members and be ready to strike.