Thousands of nurses across the UK have begun their strike as they protest about their pay and conditions. The industrial action is the biggest to be taken by nurses in the history of the NHS, involving around a quarter of hospitals and community teams in England, all but one health board in Wales, and all trusts in Northern Ireland.
Staff will continue to provide life-saving and urgent care but routine services have been disrupted. There are claims that almost 70,000 appointments and surgeries in England will be lost as a result of the walkout.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is asking for a pay rise that is 5% above the RPI inflation rate, which currently sits at around 14%. No offers as of yet have come close and the Government is calling the request "unaffordable".
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