The Latest Breaking News from Pat Cullen

For the first time in its 106-year history, the Royal College of Nursing balloted its 300,000 NHS members and nurses at 175 trusts or services plan to strike over pay and working conditions

The Royal College of Nursing said its members in the majority of NHS employers across the UK have backed industrial action.

There is nothing ‘militant’ about demanding less than what you were paid in 2010. The government needs to zip up and stump up, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

“We have the best doctors and nurses in the world yet they are treated so badly instead of treasured"

Labour frontbencher Ed Miliband said that looming walkouts by members of the Royal College of Nursing were borne of 'incredible frustration and dismay' at Tory handling of the health service

The walkout will likely see patients face disruption to operations and appointments amid already record NHS waiting lists

‘The high costs of staff turnover suggest that staff retention is a cost-effective policy for the NHS,’ says Dr Gavan Conlon

The Royal College of Nursing’s ballot on strike action is ongoing, with around 300,000 members being asked if they are prepared to walk out.

‘I just couldn’t make ends meet. I had no choice but to leave the scheme,’ says nurse Jodie Elliot