In fifty percent of England’s hospitals, mental health, and community services, nurses are on strike.
The walkout will last until Monday at midnight, and NHS leaders have warned that services will be severely disrupted.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing have walked out of all areas, including intensive care, for the first time.
The RCN stated that it had consented to some last-minute exemptions so that nurses could be withdrawn from the picket line to provide life-saving care.
However, NHS England warned patients to anticipate “service disruptions and delays during the strike period.”
It was stated that personnel levels would be “exceptionally low, lower than on previous strike days” in certain areas.
The NHS advises those who are gravely ill or injured to dial 999 as usual, but for non-emergencies, call 111.
This is challenging, as nurses cannot be replaced.
Dr. Jacob Mushlin, an accident and emergency consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary, stated that the absence of nurses would result in delays and a decline in treatment quality at his facility and throughout the nation.
“The nurses provide an indispensable service that cannot be performed by other staff members,” he said.
We will discover that we will be unable to provide any care other than that which preserves life or limb.
Dr. Mushlin stated that NHS wait times have caused “terrible” anger and violence against hospital workers, which lowered morale.
It has a significant effect on our staff, staff fatigue, and staff morale, he said.
“We ultimately risk losing staff members.”
Pat Cullen, general secretary of the RCN, stated that the union would guarantee the provision of life and limb coverage.
All hospitals have been assured of a minimum level of intensive care and trauma coverage.
A quarter of trusts participating in the strike have been granted additional exemptions for services such as transplant and cardiac care, allowing them to send in some striking nurses because they have been unable to fill the rotas with other staff.
This is because the RCN must follow union guidelines to provide life-saving care during a strike.
Intensive care, chemotherapy, and dialysis have been excluded from previous strikes.
MS Cullen regretted the strike but said the government’s pay offer should be improved.
“Only through negotiations can this issue be resolved, and I urge ministers to reopen formal discussions with the RCN.”
“Nursing personnel are seeking a settlement that demonstrates the government’s appreciation and comprehension of their profession.
“We are currently a long way from that, but I remind ministers that it is entirely within their control.”
This latest 28-hour action precedes a crucial meeting on Tuesday between several health unions, ministers, and NHS managers to discuss the government’s 5% compensation offer.
The RCN rejected the offer and proclaimed their third strike of the year, while other unions accepted it.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay characterized the RCN’s decision to continue its strike as “premature” and disrespectful to other unions participating in Tuesday’s meeting.
Ministers and NHS leaders had previously warned that the safety of patients would be compromised.
The health secretary stated on Sunday that the strikes would “increase pressure on the NHS and be extremely disruptive to patients.”
A High Court ruling concluded that the walkout was unconstitutional because the six-month term had expired.
National exemptions ensured nursing coverage in other important areas during January and February nursing strikes.
On Monday, Unite members at the Yorkshire ambulance service and Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust in central London will also stage a walkout and protest march in the capital.
Unite members at the South Central, South East Coast, and West Midlands ambulance trusts, as well as employees at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Pathology Partnership, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, will all participate in industrial action on Tuesday.
The national leader of Unite, Onay Kasab, stated that if the health secretary attempted to impose a pay offer, the union would continue its industrial action.
“We will conduct a vote, and where we have current mandates – some lasting until September. We will continue to take action and escalate,” he said.
He called the disruption “a national crisis” and urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to intervene.
