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Tag: Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

  • Steve Barclay: Calls for adequate ambulance strike coverage

    The health secretary says that in order to protect patients during this week’s ambulance strike, unions must guarantee that there will be “sufficient” staffing.

    On Wednesday, workers in England and Wales will strike over pay; however, life-threatening situations will be attended to.

    Unions claim that discussions with ambulance trusts to create comprehensive plans for cover are still ongoing.

    There is a lack of clarity regarding what is being offered, according to Steve Barclay.

    He said it was for the unions to ensure they “meet their obligations” for emergency cover so that people in crisis get the care they need.

    But Unite leader Sharon Graham, whose union is co-ordinating the ambulance strikes with Unison and GMB, said Mr Barclay will “have to carry the can if patients suffer”.

    “It’s Steve Barclay who is holding the country to ransom,” she told the Daily Mirror.

    Unions say the government has the power to stop the ambulance strike – and action by nurses on Tuesday – if it signalled a willingness to discuss pay.

     

    The ambulance walkouts will involve paramedics as well as control room staff and support workers.

    The action by the three main ambulance unions – Unison, GMB and Unite – will affect non-life threatening calls, meaning those who suffer trips, falls or other injuries may not receive treatment.

    Members of GMB are set to follow up the action with another walkout on 28 December.

    The government’s emergency Cobra committee will meet this morning to discuss how to lessen the impact of the ambulance strike. Ministers have already announced members of the military will be on standby to help out.

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    The unions representing NHS workers have asked for above-inflation pay rises for staff.

    The governments in England and Wales have given staff an average rise of 4.75%, with a guaranteed minimum of £1,400.

    Mr Barclay has said the government’s pay award met the requirements of the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body and what was being asked for was “unaffordable”.

    While visiting an emergency call centre in Chelmsford on Sunday, Mr Barclay declined to be drawn on reports the government had ruled out a one-off payment for NHS workers to break the strikes deadlock, saying discussions between his department and the prime minister on the issue were private.

    He added: “But I’m keen to continue a dialogue with the trade unions because there’s a range of issues that matter to staff,” he said, referring to issues such as technology and safety.

    Both Unison and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union have threatened further strikes in the new year if an agreement is not reached.

    Unison’s health of health Sara Gorton urged Mr Barclay to “do the right” thing both for NHS workers and patients and “host genuine talks and put a better pay offer on the table”.

    “Ministers should take their heads out of the sand, stop pretending they can’t boost wages and stop ignoring a worsening staffing crisis,” she said.

  • For the first time in over a century, score of nurses strike today in first mass walkout over salary

    The action, which was a “difficult decision,” has led to picket lines being set up and Christmas Day-style service being implemented in many hospitals, but nurses say they are not enjoying it. The action, which was a “difficult decision,” has picket lines set up and Christmas Day-style service implemented in many hospitals, but nurses say they are not enjoying it.

    In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, tens of thousands of nurses have walked out in protest for the first time in a century.

    The attempt to secure above-inflation pay increases has moved forward as a result of the failure of negotiations to avert it.

    Thousands of NHS appointments and operations have been cancelled, and picket lines are set up at numerous hospitals. The health system is currently operating like a bank holiday-style service in many areas.

    The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said it will still staff chemotherapy, emergency cancer services, dialysis, critical care units, neonatal and paediatric intensive care.

    Some areas of mental health and learning disability and autism services are also exempt from the strike, while trusts have been told they can request staffing for specific clinical needs.

    When it comes to adult A&E and urgent care, nurses will work Christmas Day-style rotas.

    Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said agency NHS trusts were “pulling out all the stops” to lessen the impact on patients.

    She said: “But it’s inevitable that some operations or appointments will have to be rescheduled, and trusts are pulling out all the stops to minimise disruption.

    Source: SkyNews.com 

  • UK: NHS nurses’ strike in December is the largest in their history

    Nurses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will go on strike for two days next month, in what will be the largest walkout in NHS history.

    In its pay dispute with the government, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced strikes on December 15 and 20.

    Although nurses will continue to provide emergency care, routine services will be impacted.

    The RCN claimed it had no choice after ministers refused to reopen talks, but the government claimed the 19% pay increase demanded was unaffordable.

    “Ministers have chosen strike action,” RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said.

    “Nursing staff have had enough of being taken for granted, enough of low pay and unsafe staffing levels, enough of not being able to give our patients the care they deserve.”

    Under trade union laws, the RCN has to ensure life-preserving care is provided during the strikes, which will last from 08:00 to 20:00 GMT.

    This is likely to mean some urgent cancer services, urgent tests and scans and ongoing care for vulnerable patients will be protected alongside A&E and intensive care – although it will be up to local health bosses and union leaders to negotiate exact staffing levels on strike days.

    But it seems almost certain the walkout will increase the backlog in non-urgent hospital treatment – a record seven million people are already on the waiting list in England.

    Louise Ansari, from the Healthwatch England patient watchdog, said she was “concerned” about the impact on this group of patients.

    ‘I am sorry we are having to do this’

    Shaun Williams

    Hospital nurse Shaun Williams only started working as a nurse a year ago.

    He said the thought of striking makes him sad, but he is prepared to do it.

    “I am sorry we are having to do this.

    “But we are doing it for the right reasons, we are doing it for patient safety.

    “You are running on reserves most days. We do not have enough staff and because of the lack of nurses, patients are at risk.

    “Unless we pay nurses more we are not going to attract people or keep people.”

    And he says unless the situation changes he may even quit nursing.

    GP services, however, will be unaffected as nurses working in practices were not entitled to take part in the ballot.

    And because a series of individual ballots were held at NHS trusts and boards rather than one national ballot, nurses at more than 40% of England’s hospitals, mental health and community services are not entitled to strike because the turnout was too low in those votes.

    However, walkouts can happen at all of Northern Ireland’s health boards and in all-but-one in Wales, the Aneurin Bevan.

    Staggered action

    What is not clear yet is just how many of the services where strike action can take place will see walkouts.

    It is possible the RCN could stagger the action so some services go on strike in December, with others to follow suit next year if the industrial action continues.

    It is seen by the union as a way of limiting the disruption to patients, while keeping the pressure on the government.

    Individual NHS trusts and boards will not find out until next week whether they will see walkouts on the two dates, because that is when the formal notices will go out.

    The RCN has called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate, which currently stands at above 14%, but no UK nation has offered close to that.

    In England and Wales, NHS staff, including nurses, have been given a rise of at least £1,400 – worth about 4% on average for nurses.

    In Northern Ireland, nurses are yet to receive a pay award because there is no working government.

    Strike action has been suspended in Scotland however after the government there made a fresh offer worth more than 8% for a newly-qualified nurse. More senior nurses are being offered less. The RCN said it was considering the offer.

    ‘Strike last thing patients need’

    During the ballot, the results of which were announced two weeks ago, the RCN had argued this year’s below-inflation pay award came after years of squeezes on nurse’s salaries.

    But England Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the RCN’s demands were not affordable, adding he “deeply regretted” union members would be taking action.

    He pointed out the government had met the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in giving its award.

    And it followed a 3% pay rise last year, in recognition of work during the pandemic, despite a public-sector pay freeze.

    “Our priority is keeping patients safe. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption,” he added.

    The Welsh government said it was unable to enter pay talks without extra funding from the UK government.

    Labour shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said talks should restart – although he would not commit to paying the above-inflation pay rise the RCN was seeking.

    “Why on earth is the health secretary refusing to negotiate with nurses? Patients will never forgive the Conservatives for this negligence.”

    This will only be the second time RCN members have been on strike.

    In 2019, nurses in Northern Ireland walked out over pay, while nurses who are members of Unison in England walked out in 2014 over pay.

    A host of other major health unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB and Unite, have all started balloting members.

  • UK: Nurses give government five days to begin wage negotiations, or they’ll strike in December

    The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced last week that its members at the majority of NHS employers across the UK had voted to strike.

    Nurses have given the government five days to begin “detailed negotiations” on pay, or they will declare a December strike.

    It comes as the chancellor pledged an extra £2.3 billion for the NHS over the next two years, as the health service deals with inflationary pressures.

    NHS England has forecast a £7 billion funding shortfall for next year, which it cannot close with efficiency measures alone.

    However, health officials are said to agree that the new funding is adequate in light of the fact that economists believe October’s inflation figure was the high point.

    Last week, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced its members at the majority of NHS employers across the UK had voted to take strike action.

    A health system in crisis

    In a letter to the health secretary following Thursday’s autumn statement, RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said recent meetings with Steve Barclay, while cordial in tone, had not resolved the issues at the heart of strike action.

    “I must not let my members, nor the public confuse these meetings for serious discussions on the issues of NHS pay and patient safety,” she said in the letter.

    “There is only value in meeting if you wish to discuss – in formal, detailed negotiations – the issues that have caused our members to vote for strike action.”

    With record demand and waiting times, as well as a growing backlog ahead of what looks set to be a busy winter, the UK’s health and care system are facing a crisis.

    Pat Cullen leaving a meeting with the health secretary earlier this month
    Image: Pat Cullen leaving a meeting with the health secretary earlier this month

    There are nursing staff shortages across the UK – made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis – with 60,000 unfilled nursing roles.

    Data from the London School of Economics found the salaries of experienced nurses have declined by 20% in real terms over the last 10 years across most of the UK. This means nurses are effectively working one day a week for free.

    The RCN is calling for a pay rise of 5% above inflation to combat this.

    Strikes across the NHS

    The RCN is not the only organisation threatening strike action within the NHS.

    NHS workers in roles such as blood and transplant services were among nearly 10,000 people being balloted over action that could see them walk off the job as soon as January.

    Unite union, which represents 100,000 NHS workers, said voting papers are going out across 36 NHS trusts and organisations in England and Wales.

  • The Royal College of Nursing has announced the first strike in its 106-year history

    The RCN had requested that its members be paid 5% more than the RPI inflation rate, which is currently above 12%.

    A nursing union representing hundreds of thousands of nurses in the United Kingdom has voted to go on strike for the first time in the union’s 106-year history.

    According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the strike will affect the majority of NHS employers in the UK, as nurses protest pay levels and patient safety concerns.

    The union stated that many of England’s largest hospitals would go on strike, but that others “narrowly missed” the legal turnout thresholds required for action.

    All NHS employers in Northern Ireland and Scotland would be included and all bar one in Wales met the threshold, they added.

    RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “Anger has become action – our members are saying enough is enough.

    “The voice of nursing in the UK is strong and I will make sure it is heard. Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife edge at home and a raw deal at work.

    “Ministers must look in the mirror and ask how long they will put nursing staff through this.

    “While we plan our strike action, next week’s budget is the UK government’s opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop this now and at any point.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan: ‘No point’ for nurses to strike

    “This action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses.

    “Standards are falling too low and we have strong public backing for our campaign to raise them. This winter, we are asking the public to show nursing staff you are with us.”

    The union had urged more than 300,000 of its members to vote for industrial action over pay in the first statutory ballot on industrial action across the UK in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing.

    It had called for its members to receive a pay rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate, which currently stands at above 12%.

    This request has not been met by any UK nation.

    Recent analysis showed an experienced nurse’s salary has fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, the RCN said, adding that nurses are working the equivalent of one day a week for nothing.

    Patient confronts PM on pay for nurses

    ‘Deep regret’ and ‘challenging times’ – health minister’s response

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We are all hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, including nurses, and deeply regret that some union members have voted for industrial action.

    “These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year.

    “This is on top of a 3% pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living.

    “Our priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate.”

    ‘A strike across the NHS this winter isn’t inevitable’

    Wes Streeting MP, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: “There were no strikes in the NHS during 13 years when Labour was last in government.

    “If we were in office today, we would be talking with the RCN and doing everything we can to prevent these strikes going ahead.”

    The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, offered “support and solidarity” to nurses, with deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick adding: “It is still within the government’s gift to pay healthcare staff fairly for the vital, often lifesaving work that they do.

    “We urge government to listen to the concerns of frontline health staff and deliver the investment that the NHS and its workforce so desperately need.”

    Meanwhile, health workers in other unions, including ambulance staff, hospital porters and cleaners, are also voting on industrial action over pay.

    UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “A strike across the NHS this winter isn’t inevitable.

    “Unions want to work with ministers to solve the NHS staffing crisis and its impact on patient care. But that must start with another pay rise for health workers. Otherwise, delays and waits for patients won’t reduce.”