Summary
That’s all from our live coverage of the nurses strike for today. In case you missed anything, here’s a quick round-up of the day’s events.
Numerous Labour MPs joined nurses on picket lines in support of the strike. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism from some in recent months over his muted backing of industrial action.
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen said the day marked a “turning point in the campaign for fair nursing pay” and that ministers were now under “fresh pressure” on the issue.
A poll for YouGov found that 64% of the public supported nurses in their decision to strike, while 28% were opposed. Another poll, by Ipsos, found that 80% of people were concerned about the ability of the NHS to provide safe care for people during the strike.
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor called on the government to act to prevent future strikes. “The worry is that this is just the start; that strikes possibly being planned for January could be more severe and coordinated across the different unions,” he said.
Former chair of the NHS pay review body Jerry Cope suggested ministers should ask the group to bring forward its next set of pay recommendations to account for the cost of living crisis.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said there were “no plans to tell the independent body what to do” and insisted the pay review bodies were genuinely independent.
The health secretary, Steve Barclay, ruled out moving on pay for nurses but claimed there is “room” for discussion. On a visit to London’s Chelsea and Westminster hospital, Barclay said he had had a meeting with trade unions in which they found common ground, but suggested their requests were unreasonable.
Two Tory MPs publicly called on the government to consider a more generous pay settlement for nurses. Former party chair Jake Berry said the government should “improve its offer”, while Dr Dan Poulter, who has worked as an NHS hospital doctor, said “inflation has significantly eroded [nurses’] real-terms pay”.
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RMT Union chief Mick Lynch joined a picket line today in support of striking nurses.
Lynch has become a well-known figure in recent months, defending industrial action by his own members in frequent debates and interviews in the media.
The London branch of the Royal College of Nursing tweeted a photo of Lynch with a group of nurses outside St Mary’s hospital in west London.
Great to have Mick Lynch from @RMTunion come down to show his support at our picket at St. Mary’s Hospital. #FairPayForNursing #RCNStrike pic.twitter.com/dDnYWLnxWP
— RCN London (@RCNLondon) December 15, 2022
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