Nurses set to strike before Christmas after voting in favour of first ever mass NHS walkout

6 November 2022, 07:49 | Updated: 6 November 2022, 07:53

Nurses are set to strike in coming weeks
Nurses are set to strike in coming weeks. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

Nurses across the UK have voted to strike in the first ever national action over a pay dispute.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The strike ballot among more than 300,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) was the biggest ever in the union's 106-year history.

Although counting is still under way, it is understood that RCN officials believe enough members have voted for winter industrial action which is set to take place within a few weeks, possibly before Christmas.

General secretary Pat Cullen said: "Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses - we have their support in doing this."

The NHS is also expected to face industrial action from other staffing groups including junior doctors, midwives and non-clinical workers like cleaners.

The exact nature of the strike action is yet to be determined, but it will likely see patients face disruption to operations and appointments while already dealing with record waiting lists.

Read more: 'We can't keep throwing money at the problem': Nick Ferrari calls for NHS reform

Read more: 'You're not trying!' Hospital patient takes on Sunak over nurses' pay as he U-turns on £10 missed appointment charge

Nurses have voted in favour of a strike
Nurses have voted in favour of a strike. Picture: Alamy

It also comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt already face the huge challenge of tackling a £50 billion hole in public finances.

In a statement, Ms Cullen said: "Patients are at great risk when there aren't enough nurses.

"Huge numbers of staff - both experienced and newer recruits - are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly."

She added: "As we begin action, politicians in every part of the UK will be challenged to back their nursing staff and understand the strength of public support."

Nurses are just one of the NHS staff groups demanding higher pay
Nurses are just one of the NHS staff groups demanding higher pay. Picture: Alamy

The RCN said there are record nursing vacancies and in the last year 25,000 nursing staff around the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.

It said recent analysis showed an experienced nurse's salary has fallen by 20 per cent in real terms since 2010, saying the goodwill and expertise of nursing staff is being "exploited" by governments across the UK.

The union is campaigning for a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation.

The RCN is demanding nurses receive a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation
The RCN is demanding nurses receive a pay rise of 5 per cent above inflation. Picture: Alamy

Nurses are not the only ones to be taking industrial action, with several other workers' unions voting to strike.

Commuters face travel chaos throughout summer after a number of rail and Tube strikes, with disputes still on going.

Another series of National Rail strikes, which were set to halt transport next week, were called off by the RMT union on Friday evening amid talks.

More Royal Mail strikes are also on the cards for November ahead of one of the busiest times of year for the industry - Christmas.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane