On February 6, paramedics and nurses will both go on strike, marking the first time that both groups will be on strike at the same time. There are concerns that it could provide the NHS with a “major challenge.”
NHS leaders are preparing for the largest walkout in the history of the health service.
On February 6, paramedics and nurses will go on strike simultaneously for the first time in history.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive officer of NHS Providers, described the potential walkouts as “very concerning.”
She stated, “Trusts have warned for months that coordinated strikes might occur if the government and unions fail to reach an early agreement on this year’s wage award.”
Ms. Cordery asked governments to “urgently sit down with the unions to discuss the crucial issue of pay for the current fiscal year; otherwise, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.”
In a protracted dispute over wages, the Royal College of Nursing has stated that further strikes will occur on February 6 and 7.
The GMB union also stated yesterday that more than 10,000 ambulance employees, including paramedics and phone takers, will strike on February 6.
Ms. Cordery cautioned that it could be the largest day of industrial action the NHS has ever seen.
Significant difficulty
Thousands of nurses at more than 55 NHS trusts in England are on strike today, their second and last day of industrial action this week.
However, Matthew Taylor, chief executive officer of the NHS Confederation, believes that the two walkouts in February will have a considerably greater impact.
He continued, “This escalation brings us deeper into the predicament NHS leaders have been warning against – a months-long battle of attrition between the government and unions at a time when NHS services face unprecedented constraints.
Health leaders will increase plans and preparations for the simultaneous strike of nurses and ambulance workers next month, which will provide a greater challenge than previous industrial action
Rishi Sunak has stated that his government is “extremely eager to have a meaningful dialogue” with public sector unions and has emphasized that discussions are ongoing to find a way to cease strikes.
The prime minister said, “However, we must also ensure that these discussions are grounded in what is reasonable and responsible for the country as we combat inflation, which is good for everyone if we can bring it down as rapidly as possible.”
Also yesterday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay denied a 10% salary increase for nurses, arguing that it would be “unaffordable.
He cautioned that this would equate to an additional £3.6 billion per year and divert funds from patient services.
“Extremely heartbroken”
Pat Cullen, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, states that nurses are “heartbroken” about going on strike, but have no choice.
She stated, “No nurse should be ashamed to admit that, in reality, they struggle to make ends meet on the meager income provided by this administration. It is their right to be compensated fairly.”
Ms. Cullen stated in a statement that patients had joined picket lines on Wednesday, demonstrating that “this is a war for the soul of the NHS as much as it is about wage increases.”
