Nurses on picket lines as second day of action continues across Cornwall
Staff from Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are striking
Last updated 20th Jan 2023
Hundreds of nurses across Cornwall are striking on picket lines today to continue striking over pay and working conditions.
This week is the first first time nursing staff and members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have been out in the national industrial action.
Staff from both the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have been taking action.
Sarah Medlicott, pain specialist nurse at Royal Cornwall Hospital, said: "We can't recruit because we aren't paid well. It's a degree profession but we're not paid as degree graduates so therefore we can't recruit".
"That's putting patients at risk"
Sarah continued: "It's not necessarily about more pay for us per say but it's about fair pay for the job that we do. We've stood for so long just accepting it. Accepting the fact that we don't get days off. If we get a day off then we're contacted by our managers on if we can work because they're short staffed.
"The NHS is on its knees and we just can't cope anymore".
Becky, staff nurse, added: "They are stating it's all about pay but it's not, yes pay is a his NHS is in crisis. Staffing levels are the lowest its ever been. The people leaving the NHS is the highest it's ever been.
"Patients are suffering"
"We haven't got a safe number of staffing on a daily basis. That's enough for me to get better care and better conditions for us".
Cornwall's NHS say they are still here to offer medical support today on the second day of industrial action and are urging the public to #HelpUsHelpYou by choosing the right service at the right time to help support the service.
RCN members across the UK went out on strike for the first time in history last month - and have announced further action on February 6 and February 7.