North Yorkshire nurses to go on strike next month

Nurses across Harrogate, Scarborough and York will go on strike next month in a dispute over pay.

The Royal College of Nursing's announced walkouts on the 18th and 19th of January and says further dates will be confirmed in the New Year.

Members of the RCN at hospitals across much of England will take part in the fresh action - including staff at:

• Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
• York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

It follows industrial action at hospitals across England for two days earlier this month (December) in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Locally, RCN members across Harrogate, York and Scarborough did not take part.

Commenting on January's planned walk out, RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said:

“The government had the opportunity to end this dispute before Christmas but instead they have chosen to push nursing staff out into the cold again in January.

“I do not wish to prolong this dispute, but the prime minister has left us with no choice.”

Health secretary "disappointed"

Responding to the announcement, health secretary Steve Barclay said: "While union members will not be going ahead with strikes over Christmas, we are disappointed they have announced further co-ordinated strikes in January to cause maximum disruption at a time when the NHS is already under extreme pressure.

"Ambulance staff on picket lines have been raising concerns about working conditions and handover times, so it is important to use this extra time to keep talking about how we can make the NHS a better place to work.

"However, the unaffordable pay demands of unions would mean taking money away from frontline services and cause further delays to care.

"Strikes are in no one's best interest, least of all patients, and I urge unions to reconsider further industrial action to avoid an even greater impact on patient."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

• NHS