Nurses’ union makes apparent U-turn over staffing exemptions during strike

Nurses on the picket line outside Great Ormond Street hospital during the RCN’s strike in December last year. Photograph: Adam Sich/The Guardian

The Royal College of Nurses appears to have U-turned on its decision to allow no exemptions to hospitals during this weekend’s strike action, with nurses now due to work in an emergency capacity in dozens of hospitals across England.

Nurses will be working across several NHS trusts – including Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, in London, and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust – in wards including intensive care and A&E. This is despite the RCN vowing when strike action was announced that exemptions would not be made for any hospitals.