The Royal College of Nursing Union has agreed with NHS England that nurses may provide “safety critical mitigations” to “maintain safe patient care” in certain emergencies.
NHS England has warned hospitals in some regions to prepare for “exceptionally low” staffing levels as nurses prepare to strike over the bank holiday weekend.
The health department expects 500,000 rescheduled appointments owing to six months of industrial action next week.
The Royal College of Nursing’s bank holiday strike runs from 8 p.m. Sunday to 11:59 p.m. Monday.
It will be the most recent action taken by nurses in a protracted dispute over pay and working conditions.
25% of NHS workers are nurses. They desire a wage increase that exceeds inflation by 5%.
The cost of living problem has made nurses’ earnings fall behind inflation, according to the RCN.
The union has stated that it will not consent to derogations (areas of care where unions agree to provide staffing during industrial action) during the strike action, which means that nurses in intensive care, A&E, and cancer care will be on the picket line.
In a new development, the RCN and NHS England have agreed that nurses may provide “safety critical mitigations” to “maintain safe patient care” in certain emergencies.
NHS England stated that the health service and RCN “seek to agree mitigations on an organization-by-organization basis if there is a significant risk to patient safety.
However, it warned that labor levels in certain regions will be “exceptionally low, even lower than on previous strike days.”
Great Ormond Street Hospital CEO Mat Shaw thanked the staff and RCN for safety exemptions during the strike.
Before the walkout, the renowned children’s hospital had declared a business continuity incident due to “serious concerns over safely staffing the hospital.
Its website stated that some children may need to be sent home to protect the others.
Today, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said “all exemptions requested by Great Ormond Street Hospital were granted yesterday (April 28).”
She added that during the strike, the RCN would operate an incident center to handle requests.
Ms. Cullen cautioned that further strikes may be necessary following this weekend’s action. Although the “vast majority” of the public supports nurses in the dispute.
She stated, “We will be issuing a re-ballot to our nursing staff in mid-May, which will then close around mid-June – and that will be for an additional six months of strike action if we do not negotiate with the government and begin to find a solution to this issue.”
Original strike strategy deemed unlawful
A High Court judge determined Thursday that the strike could not extend into Tuesday. Nurses will go on strike this weekend.
Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, won an interim court ruling against part of the union’s strike.
NHS England is urging people to use the health service wisely as hospitals prepare for the bank holiday weekend.
It was stated that emergency and urgent care would continue to take precedence, with people encouraged to utilize other services. Such as pharmacies and 111, whenever possible.
Unions are encouraged to approve a proposed wage
The latest action comes as health unions are divided over whether to accept the government’s 5% pay offer.
On Tuesday, the NHS Staff Council – comprised of health unions, employers, and government representatives – will debate the offer.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organizations that commission and provide services for the health service, told, “There is a risk, there is a concern that unions that haven’t accepted the agreement may break away.
“We would strongly advise them not to do so. I believe it is vital that NHS employees stay together.”
He continued, “We expect that if the staff council accepts this (pay proposal), all unions will accept it as well.
“However, I believe it’s crucial to note that this does not imply that we, as leaders of the health service, are oblivious to the genuine concerns of staff regarding their pay decrease.
“I speak with NHS regularly, and many of them tell me they’ve never known it to be so difficult to retain staff in the health service at a time when they’re more concerned about staff morale.
“We recruit employees reasonably well, but too many of them depart because the job’s pressures are too great. Thus, the strike’s causes—recruitment, retention, and motivation—must be addressed.
