Nurses begin biggest strike in history

Nurses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have begun the biggest strike in the history of the NHS.

Urgent and life-preserving care will still go ahead, though routine surgery and other planned treatment is likely to be disrupted.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the strikes are to demand fair pay and patient safety and in objection to years of real-terms pay cuts and concerns over patient safety.

The RCN called for a pay rise to overcome years of real-terms pay cuts and for the recruitment and retainment of nursing staff to protect patient safety.

RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “For many of us, this is our first time striking and our emotions are really mixed. The NHS is in crisis, the nursing profession can’t take any more, our loved ones are already suffering.

“It is not unreasonable to demand better. This is not something that can wait. We are committed to our patients and always will be.”

 

Event Diary

DISCOVER | DEVELOP | DISRUPT

UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.

The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.