Nurses tomorrow begin their first-ever strike with the majority of the public supporting them, a poll shows.
Fed-up staff who were applauded and hailed as heroes by the Government during the pandemic will now be heading to picket lines in protest at No10’s refusal to even discuss their paltry pay rise offer.
An Ipsos poll found 52% support the strikes with only 27% against.
It comes as struggling NHS workers at a trust were offered foodbank vouchers.
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen said members on picket lines was “a sign of failure on the part of government” as patients face cancelled operations and postponed treatments. And she insisted the action was as much about saving the NHS from Tory destruction as it was pay.
Follow The Mirror's LIVE blog for all the updates on the nurses' strike throughout today
Ms Cullen added: “My plea to patients tonight is to know that this strike is for you, too. It’s about waiting lists, treatments that are cancelled year-round and the very future of the NHS.
“Nurses are not relishing this. It has been a difficult decision to remove their labour in a bid to be heard, recognised and valued.”
Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of “playing games with people’s health” by snubbing the pleas of nurses instead of getting round the negotiating table to thrash out a deal that will give them a fair wage and stop the exodus of staff.
The Labour leader said: “Nurses going on strike is a badge of shame for this government. After 12 years of Tory failure, winter has arrived for our public services, and we’ve got a Prime Minister who has curled up in a ball and gone into hibernation.
“If he can’t act on behalf of patients or nurses, or everyone who wants these strikes called off, then the country’s entitled to ask what is the point of him?”
Strikes are also planned for Tuesday, and ambulance crews are due to walk out a day later. Nurses will still staff chemotherapy units, emergency cancer services, dialysis, critical care and neonatal and children’s intensive care.
Areas of mental health are exempt from the action. A&E and urgent care nurses will work Christmas Day-style rotas. Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said he is sticking to the independent pay review body’s recommendation of a pay rise of around £1,400 for nurses, despite soaring inflation. The RCN wants a rise at 5% above inflation, though it would accept a lower offer.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs four hospitals in Greater Manchester, has offered staff foodbank vouchers.
It told them: “We know it can be a challenge trying to make household budgets spread further.”
The International Council of Nurses tonight wrote an open letter to Mr Barclay in support of the RCN strikes.
It said: “When you invest in nursing, you are investing in the health, security and economic prosperity of the people of the UK.”
You can help show solidarity with striking nurses by visiting picket lines, donating to the RCN strike fund or signing its petition for a fair pay deal at rcn.org.uk/get-involved/strike-hub
Call 999 if you need to - NHS
People should keep coming forward for emergency medical care during strikes.
Patients should call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, the NHS has said.
People in non-life-threatening situations should call NHS 111.
GPs, community pharmacies and dentists won’t be affected by the industrial action. And If nobody has been in touch to reschedule a hospital appointment, you should attend as planned.
NHS Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Charlotte McArdle said: “No one should hesitate in coming forward for emergency care. While strikes will cause inevitable disruption, local NHS teams have worked hard to maintain as many appointments as possible.”
