Nurses and ambulance workers across South West go on strike
It's part of the ongoing dispute over pay & working conditions
Last updated 6th Feb 2023
Thousands of nurses and ambulance workers across the south west are striking today in what is being called the biggest strike day the NHS has ever seen.
Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England are walking out alongside GMB and Unite paramedics, call handlers and other staff at the South West Ambulance trust.
Nurses will strike again on Tuesday, ambulance workers again on Friday and physiotherapists are set to strike on Thursday.
Union blames politicians
RCN director for England Patricia Marquis said: "Since he took office, the Prime Minister has failed to deliver on his promises to the NHS and is letting it deteriorate rapidly.
"More people are waiting in A&E, more patients are stuck in hospitals unable to access the care at home they need, and bed occupancy rates remain at dangerous levels. People are also having to wait longer to access mental health services when demand has never been greater.
"Patients are not dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because patients are dying.
"Our members have a mandate to take strike action for another 100 days and the Prime Minister would do well to see these strikes for what they are - a warning of the need for swift action."
Nurse practitioner and RCN member Carmel O'Boyle said: "In the 100 days that Rishi Sunak has been Prime Minister, I've treated well over a thousand patients.
"I've done dressings, analysed X-rays, given injections and shots, fished glass and dirt out of wounds after a patient has had a fall, treated infections and managed medications.
"I've dealt with aggressive patients, people having a mental health crisis and patients with complex learning disabilities who present challenging behaviour. I've devised countless diagnosis and treatment plans after a full examination of each patient. I've had to impart bad news, and sometimes happier news.
We spoke to Kerry, who is a nurse in a south west hospital. She questions whether it's worth being a nurse in the current climate. She says, "It's something I've always wanted to do, and when you help a patient that is a very rewarding feeling. For us to be striking again is a decision that we aren't taking very lightly"
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "Patients will understandably be worried by the prospect of further strike action by nurses - the previous two days of nurse strikes saw around 30,000 elective procedures and outpatient appointments cancelled. It is inevitable industrial action will have an impact on patients.
"I have had constructive talks with the Royal College of Nursing and other unions about the 2023/24 pay process and look forward to continuing that dialogue."