University of Lincoln staff raise concerns over the future of the NHS workforce

With less pay for teaching staff, and less trained professionals coming into teaching, the future of the UK healthcare system is threatened by staff retention

70,000 staff at 150 universities - including those at the University of Lincoln - are walking out today in a row over pay
Author: Charlotte LinnecarPublished 10th Feb 2023

Members of staff at the University of Lincoln are walking out for the second day in a row after an overwhelming rejection to the employers' most recent 5 percent pay offer. A further 15 days of strike action are already scheduled if another offer isn't made.

University staff across Lincolnshire and Newark tell us why they're striking following another day of industrial action.

Members of the University and College Union are walking out in a row over pay, workload, contracts and equality.

But a senior lecturer at the University of Lincoln is now raising concerns for the future of the NHS as experienced teaching staff is difficult to retain.

Nick left the NHS where she was a senior clinical nurse and came to the University to teach the future generations:

"I took a massive cut to leave nursing and come and teach the future of nursing. That's why it's such a challenge. The university system is not paying well enough to attract people out of industry, and out of the NHS to teach the future workforce.

"So we really, really struggle particularly our higher levels of nursing. You know, we run an advanced clinical practitioners course, but we can't find anyone to teach it because we're paying so poorly."

Nick continued to say that without a stable supply of lecturers, the number of students will decrease and ultimately be detrimental to the health service:

"I mean, you know, it was my choice to leave the NHS, and I love nursing. I'm still very much a nurse at home, I'm still a registered nurse, and I think it's kind of really critical that we have people that are passionate about the NHS because we're training our future workforce and we work so closely alongside them, but you're never going to get those people if you're not able to pay them."

In total 18 days of strike action are planned

In total 18 days of strike action are planned throughout February and March.

UCU and the four other higher education unions (EIS, GMB, UNISON and Unite) and employer representative the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) have agreed to further talks mediated by conciliation service Acas. The discussions will begin Monday the 13th of February.

Acas mediated talks are intended to address the issues in dispute, which include pay, equality, job insecurity and workloads.