Barclay says he has ‘no choice’ but to proceed with legal action to stop nurses’ strike
The health secretary has applied to the High Court in an attempt to stop the latest strike action planned by the Royal College of Nursing. The Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) planned strike action, involving tens of thousands of nurses, is due to take place from 8 pm on Sunday night until 8 pm on […]
NHS strikes part of ‘broader cry for help’, argues Streeting
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said the strikes in the NHS are part of a “broader cry for help” from health workers, as the government prepares to hold crunch talks with union bosses to hammer out pay deals and avoid further industrial action. Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, he said: “I think […]
Second round of nurse strikes ‘unjustifiable and unnecessary’, says health minister
With 100,000 members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) staging their second walkout across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, minister for health and secondary care Will Quince has called the action “unjustifiable and unnecessary”. He said: “My message to the unions is clear, these strikes are unjustifiable and unnecessary. The government accepts […]
‘Inevitable’ patients will suffer because of nurse strike action, says minister
As tens of thousands of UK nurses go on strike in the first such industrial action in NHS history, health minister Maria Caulfield said that people suffering “is an inevitable [consequence] of strike action”. She added: “that’s why it’s with regret we see that the RCN are going out on action today”. Caulfield, who says […]
‘Unforgivable’ for health secretary to turn down pay talks to suspend strikes, says Labour
It is “unforgivable” for the health secretary to reject an offer by nursing leaders to attend pay talks in return for suspending strike action, shadow health and social care minister Liz Kendall has said. She told BBC Breakfast: “You asked what we would do, and let me say this very simply. “And I think it’s […]
‘Union demands are not affordable’, says health secretary as more strikes announced
Unison has announced that paramedics and other ambulance workers are set to strike this winter. The UK’s biggest trade union announced the results of its month-long NHS strike ballot last night. 80,000 union members voted in favour of taking industrial action. As a result, thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their […]
Hospices in England face a huge struggle to match NHS pay increase
The 3% nursing may leave hospices in a £25m deficit.
