Nurses across the UK are set to strike in the first national action over a pay dispute.
The strike vote among more than 300,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) was the largest ever in the union’s 106-year history.
Although the count is still ongoing, RCN officials are understood to believe enough members have voted in favor of the winter industrial action which will take place in a few weeks’ time, possibly before Christmas.
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “Our strike action will be for both patients and nurses – we have your support to do it.”
The exact nature of the strike action is yet to be determined, but patients are likely to face disruption to operations and appointments while already facing record NHS waiting lists.
A union source told the Observer newspaper: “This will see most services withdrawn and pickets across the country.”
The RCN said there are record nursing vacancies and that in the past year 25,000 nursing staff across the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.
A recent analysis showed that the pay of an experienced nurse has fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, the union said, adding that the goodwill and experience of nursing staff is being “exploited ” by governments across the UK.
The RCN is campaigning for a pay rise of 5% above inflation.
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9:17 RCN chief Pat Cullen accuses government of ‘not engaging’ with nurses
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt already face the huge challenge of tackling a £50bn hole in the public finances.
Read more: Rishi Sunak confronts NHS patient over nurses’ pay during hospital visit. Nurses leaving to work in shops as they ‘can’t afford to work for the NHS’.
Mrs Cullen said: “Patients are at great risk when there are not enough nurses.
“A large number of staff, both experienced and new, are deciding that they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued or treated fairly.”
He added: “As we begin to act, politicians in all parts of the UK will be challenged to support their nursing staff and understand the strength of public support.”