Nurses are set to suspend their upcoming industrial action and enter 'intensive talks' on pay, terms and conditions and 'productivity enhancing reforms' with the government.
It comes after members of the Royal College of Nursing entered into a series of strikes over pay and working conditions over the last three months. They are now set to suspend their planned 48-hour strike in March, saying 'both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement'.
Union bosses are asking for a pay award that goes 5% above inflation, saying patients are being put at risk by current conditions.
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A joint statement from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal College of Nursing said: “The Government and Royal College of Nursing have agreed to enter a process of intensive talks.
“Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the National Health Service and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation.
“The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms. The Health Secretary will meet with the Royal College of Nursing on Wednesday to begin talks.
“The Royal College of Nursing will pause strike action during these talks.”
The strikes were set to take place between the morning of Wednesday March 1 to the morning of Friday March 3.
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