Up to 100,000 nursing staff will take part in their biggest ever strike next month in a long-running dispute over pay, it has been announced.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will take industrial action on December 15 and 20 after voting in favour in a ballot.
Nurses and other nursing staff will take action at half of the locations in England where the legal mandate was reached for strikes, including those at some NHS trusts in the North East.
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Earlier this month the RCN announced that nurses had voted to strike for the first time ever over pay, working conditions and staffing levels.
North East RCN leaders claimed last week that the Government was ‘completely unwilling’ to listen to concerns about patient safety, unsafe staffing levels and low pay.
RCN Northern Region Operational Manager Peta Clark told The Northern Echo: “It’s incredibly sad that our nursing staff have been forced into this position by this government’s complete unwillingness to listen to their concerns about patient safety, unsafe staffing levels and low pay.
RCN Northern Region Operational Manager Peta Clark told The Northern Echo: “It’s incredibly sad that our nursing staff have been forced into this position by this government’s complete unwillingness to listen to their concerns about patient safety, unsafe staffing levels and low pay.
“No safety-critical, multi-skilled, degree-educated professional should have to accept a salary worth a fifth less than it was a decade ago. Nursing salaries have not kept up with inflation and this is the consequence. The blame can be laid firmly at the government’s door.
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“Our members are saying enough is enough – our good will has been taken for granted for too long. They have had enough of low pay and unsafe staffing levels, enough of not being able to give patients the care they deserve. Workforce shortages and low pay have made care unsafe. We are striking as much for patients as for ourselves.
“Recent polling showed that nursing is the UK’s most trusted profession, and the public are supportive of our action, as they appreciate the value of a good nurse.
“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care should do the same before the workforce crisis becomes so acute that we have no one left to care for us.”
See the list below to see which NHS trusts and parts of the region will be affected by the strike.
Where Royal College of Nursing members will strike in the North East next month
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Northern Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Northern The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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