Union leader urges Prime Minister to negotiate, as further industrial action looms for NHS nurses.
Nurses across the UK will announce strike dates for after Christmas unless the government agrees to a pay deal by Friday, a union leader has warned.
Following a 12-hour walkout on Tuesday, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) General Secretary Pat Cullen told reporters that time was running out for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to enter into meaningful negotiations. This was the second strike in less than a week, with around 10,000 NHS nurses from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland participating, expressing concerns over pay, staffing shortages, and patient safety.
Cullen stated: “The Prime Minister is out of touch with the public he serves, but he still has a chance to make this the last nurse strike of his premiership.” She added that by Friday, the union would announce the details of further strikes planned for the new year unless a satisfactory pay deal was reached.
The RCN has been pushing for a pay rise of 5% above inflation, which currently exceeds 10% in the UK. Despite this, union representatives have faced resistance, particularly from the Welsh Government, which they claim has failed to open negotiations. Nicky Hughes, RCN Wales’ Associate Director of Nursing, said that despite a large turnout on the picket lines and public support, they had received “absolute silence” from officials in Wales.
Hughes argued that the Welsh Government’s reluctance to act meant that the NHS in Wales was facing a crisis, with nurses continuing to leave the profession. She added that further discussions with health boards would be necessary before any additional strikes were called.
Elsewhere, nurse Helen Perriam, who has worked in mental health for a decade, voiced her frustrations, saying that nurses were living “pay cheque to pay cheque” and deserved a dignified wage for their hard work. She accused the UK Government of prioritising political interests over the needs of the NHS workforce.
A&E nurse Georgia Sheppard also placed the blame on the Westminster Government, arguing that inadequate funding for Wales was contributing to the crisis in healthcare services.
In response, a spokesperson for the Welsh Government said they recognised the strength of feeling among staff but could not prevent the strikes due to the ongoing funding challenges from Westminster. However, they pledged to continue discussions with all partners to resolve the situation.
