Biggest nursing strike in UK history set to go ahead this winter

The biggest nursing strike in UK history is set to go ahead this winter with ‘large swathes of the country’ voting for industrial action.

According to new reports this week, officials from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) believe enough members have voted for winter industrial action, which is set to take place before Christmas.

More than 300,000 members have been balloted over the action, though nurses in critical care units and A&E will be exempt from taking part.

If the industrial action goes ahead, it will be the biggest nursing strike to take place in British history. 

While the exact nature of the strikes is yet to be revealed, it is expected to cause major disruption to NHS patients, who are already experiencing an appointment backlog thanks to the Covid pandemic.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said in the event of strikes, the NHS would prioritise the most essential services, although he acknowledged that it would have an impact on other activities, including elective surgery.

In a statement, Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, 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.

“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.”

Union officials say that since the Conservatives took power in 2010, nurses wages had fallen by 20% in real terms. They are now calling for a pay award of 5% increase plus inflation – a total of about 15%.

However, the government said the average basic annual pay for nurses would increase from about £35,600 to about £37,000 from March 2022, a rise of just 4%.