NHS nursing staff across England are joining picket lines for two consecutive days after the UK government refused to open formal pay negotiations.
Nursing staff at 55 NHS trusts across England are going on strike on 18 and 19 January, as part of the RCN’s ongoing dispute over nursing pay and patient safety.
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The trusts affected are different from those in the December strikes, which saw nursing staff at 44 NHS trusts in England take action, alongside members on strike in Northern Ireland and Wales.
‘Today’s strike action by nursing staff is a modest escalation before a sharp increase in under three weeks from now. If a week is a long time for Rishi Sunak, three weeks is the time he needs to get this resolved,’ said RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen.
‘People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because people are dying. That is how severe things are in the NHS and it is time the Prime Minister led a fight for its future.’
If progress is not made by the end of January, the RCN have said that strike action will be escalated on 6 and 7 February to include members at 73 NHS trusts in England and all but one NHS employer in Wales.
‘Today’s record number of unfilled nurse jobs cannot be left to get worse. Pay nursing staff fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve,’ added Ms Cullen.