Nurses walk out in historic strike over pay
The Royal College of Nursing says it is defending a profession that has been "taken for granted"
Last updated 15th Dec 2022
NHS bosses are warning of difficult days ahead as thousands of nurses take part in strike action across the UK.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has organised walkouts at hospital trusts across England, Wales and Northern Ireland both today and next Tuesday (20th December), in a row with the government over pay and working conditions.
RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen met with Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Monday (December 12) to try and avoid action, without success.
“I asked several times to discuss pay and each time we returned to the same thing – that there was no extra money on the table, and that they would not be discussing pay with me," Pat said afterwards.
“I needed to come out of this meeting with something serious to show nursing staff why they should not strike this week.
"Regrettably, they’re not getting an extra penny."
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said today's strikes were regrettable:
“Our nurses are incredibly dedicated to their job and it is deeply regrettable some union members are going ahead with strike action.
“My number one priority is to keep patients safe – I’ve been working across government and with medics outside the public sector to ensure safe staffing levels - but I do remain concerned about the risk that strikes pose to patients. Nevertheless, the NHS is open and patients should continue to seek urgent medical care - and attend appointments, unless they’ve been contacted by the NHS.
“These are challenging times but we have accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full to give nurses a pay rise of at least £1,400 – on top of a 3% pay rise last year when wider public sector pay was frozen. Further pay increases would mean taking money away from frontline services at a time when we are tackling record waiting lists as a result of the pandemic.”
First time in history that nurses go on strike
Today marks the first time in history that nurses in the UK will strike, with the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust (UHBW) just one of many set to be impacted.
Eugene Yafele, chief executive of that Trust, told a meeting on Monday they were still trying to establish exactly how many of their nurses are planning to take part.
“We are still working through the number of colleagues who will be taking strike action and as a consequence how we might be able to have contingencies in place to ensure that we can deliver safe services," he said.
“We have ahead of us quite a difficult few days of industrial action at a point where we are seeing increased demand coming through our emergency services, particularly for children.”
The RCN however, insists emergency treatment will not be impacted, while NHS Trusts UK wide including UHBW are still urging patients with booked appointments to turn up as normal on the strike days unless personally told otherwise.
“It’s safe to say that we will have some disruption to our elective program and elective recovery," Mr Yafele said.
Nurses themselves have shared divided opinions on the eve of the strikes, with some describing the action as "morally wrong" and others stating it is necessary to protect patients from "exceptionally poor service".
Calls for a pay rise the government says in unaffordable
The debate follows the latest breakdown in talks between the UK Government and the RCN - which is calling for a 19.2% pay rise that the Government has said is unaffordable.
Sarah Jane Palmer, a nurse and writer from London, told the PA news agency she opposes the strikes.
"My general argument is the moral one," said the 35-year-old from London.
"It's a moral duty to not abandon your patients in the name of your want for more pay."
Ms Palmer said she took a break from nursing earlier this year to concentrate on writing for academic journals but was hoping to rejoin the NHS next year.
"Fair pay is important but a life is more important," she said.
"To jeopardise human life over your salary is morally wrong," she said.
However, many nurses supporting the strikes have said the planned industrial action is not simply about money.
"I never went into nursing for money, anybody who wants money doesn't go into nursing," Debbie, a nurse from North West England whose name has been changed as she did not wish to be identified, told PA.
"I am not striking for money.
"I am striking for my fellow human beings that are receiving an exceptionally poor service in the NHS.
"I feel that your health is at risk being in a hospital at the moment.
"There are not enough nurses to care for people.
"Things are being missed.
"I would say that the risk of harm has significantly increased... we know it has because there are deaths in the back of ambulances, there are people dying at home because ambulances can't get to them, we've got A&E corridors that have turned into pseudo wards."
Debbie said she rejects the argument nurses are abandoning their patients and lays the blame for the current state of the NHS at the doorstep of the current Conservative Government.
"I refuse to be told that I am personally responsible for abandoning patients," Debbie said.
"The hospital where I work have even published direct links how to access the local food bank for staff- (it's) disgraceful.
"I am seriously thinking of retiring early because I just can't bear to be part of this any longer."
Health Secretary's response to the strike action
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I am hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of nurses and deeply regret some union members will be taking industrial action.
“These are challenging times for everyone and the economic circumstances mean the RCN’s demands, which on current figures are a 19.2% pay rise, costing £10 billion a year, are not affordable.
“We have prioritised the NHS with an extra £6.6 billion, on top of previous record funding, and accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body to give nurses a fair pay rise of at least £1,400 this year.
“This means a newly qualified nurse will typically earn over £31,000 a year, with more senior nurses earning much more than that, they will also receive a pension contribution worth 20% of their salary.
“Our priority is keeping patients safe.
"The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate.”
Action in Scotland has been paused after the Scottish government offered a new deal, with voting on the package among Scottish RCN members due to close on Monday (December 19).
You can see a full list of NHS Trusts being impacted by strike action here.
History of the NHS
NHS is established
The National Health Service was formally established in 1948 at what is now Trafford General Hospital in Manchester. The service was started by Aneurin Bevan under the government of Clement Atlee. Its aim was to create a system of free healthcare to all. One of the first patients was Sylvia Diggory, aged 13, who was suffering from a liver condition.
Prescription charges introduced
Soon after its inception, charges for prescriptions and dental care were introduced. Each prescription would cost one shilling, while dental care would require a £1 payment. Charges would eventually be dropped and then reinstated in 1968.
NHS discoveries
Throughout the 1950s, thanks to the pioneering technology the NHS was using, a number of medical advancements were made. Polio vaccinations were rolled out in the UK, the structure of DNA was found and the link between smoking and cancer was proven.
Treating new diseases
As time went on and the NHS grew, so did its capacity to look after those who were unable to be treated before. The Mental Health Act in 1983 was the first time the concept of consent was raised in treating those with mental health issues. Nurses also treated people suffering from AIDS in the late 1980s and, together with the government, helped to reduce the stigma of the disease, which primarily affected gay men.
Opening to the public
In order to cope with the increasing demand for the NHS, the structure of the service changed. In 1991, NHS Trusts were established in the first of a wave of reorganisation for the service. People would later be able to donate organs more easily with the introduction of the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Stretched resources
In the 21st century, the NHS came under pressure as a result of stretched resources. With the rising cost of medicines, the government voted to bring in longer working hours and minimal increases in pay for NHS staff in 2015. This resulted in a mass picket of junior doctors around the country for better working conditions. It was the first general strike in the NHS' history and the first instance of industrial action in 40 years. There have been further strikes in 2023
NHS during coronavirus
In 2020, a new disease named COVID-19 began to spread around the world, eventually reaching the UK at the end of January. The resulting pandemic led to NHS workers being on the frontline of the disease. Support for the NHS grew massively and during lockdowns, so-called "Claps for Carers" would take place every Thursday to thank the NHS and its staff for protecting the public during the pandemic.