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WATCH: Nurses take to picket line at York Hospital during NHS's 'biggest strike'

Members of the RCN on a picket line at York Hospital <i>(Image: Staff)</i>
Members of the RCN on a picket line at York Hospital (Image: Staff)

Nurses took to a picket line outside York Hospital today as the NHS faced the biggest walk out in the service’s history.

Hospitals were facing a “hugely disrupted day” today (Monday, February 6) after tens of thousands of workers nationally began industrial action.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said strikes will continue for “as long as it takes”, while Unite warned of a “constant cycle” of industrial action.

Union leaders implored the Government to act to prevent further strike action but ministers have insisted they cannot afford “inflation-busting pay rises”.

Jeannette Judd, a fracture clinic nurse and RCN member was on the picket line at York Hospital. She said: "I'm here today to make a stand.

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"The government needs to enter into some negotiations. There are no nurses who want to be standing here today. We want to be looking after our patients.

"We want the government to sit down and negotiate in order that if the profession is better paid it might attract more people and have safe staffing levels within all trusts.

"We are getting huge support - lots of horn honking and waving. The support from the general public is phenomenal."

The NHS was expecting upheaval across England as nurses from the RCN stage walk-outs alongside GMB and Unite paramedics, call handlers and other staff at ambulance trusts.

It is the first time ambulance workers and nurses have walked out on the same day.

Nurses will strike again on Tuesday, ambulance workers again on Friday and physiotherapists on Thursday.

York Press: The picket line at York Hospital with York Central MP Rachael Maskell, left
York Press: The picket line at York Hospital with York Central MP Rachael Maskell, left

The picket line at York Hospital with York Central MP Rachael Maskell, left

York Central MP Rachael Maskell, who joined striking nurses on the picket line outside York Hospital today, said: "It's time for the government to get round the table and negotiate.

"We can see that nurses are struggling and nurses are leaving and they need to be paid.

"We've heard today that employers and staff want a settlement - it's just the government turning their back."

NHS leaders described this action as the “most disruptive week of strikes to date” – but urged people to seek urgent and emergency care if they need it and attend appointments as planned unless they have been contacted in advance.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs York Hospital, said it had plans to continue to deliver safe care for patients.

It said staff and union representatives had worked together to put in place "extensive procedures and processes which focus on maintaining essential services", although these may be "staffed differently and there may be delays or other changes for patients".

Simon Morritt, trust chief executive, said: “We have postponed a number of operations and appointments over the period of strike action. Patients affected by this have been contacted directly, so if you have an appointment with us and have not been contacted please attend for your procedure or appointment as planned.

“During industrial action it is more important than ever that patients consider using appropriate, alternative, services.  If they are unsure of which service they need they can contact NHS 111 by phone or online at 111.nhs.uk to make sure they get the right care in the right place. This will help ensure that emergency care and attention is available for those that need it most.”

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, told Sky News: “I think it’s going to be a hugely disrupted day across the NHS. It’s going to be incredibly challenging.

York Press: Members of the RCN on the picket line outside York Hospital on Monday
York Press: Members of the RCN on the picket line outside York Hospital on Monday

Members of the RCN on the picket line outside York Hospital on Monday

“With both nurses and ambulance staff out on strike today, and nurses again tomorrow – and we’ve got physiotherapist later in the week and some ambulance staff again on Friday – we’re planning for an incredibly disrupted week.”

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen told the PA news agency: “Everyone can see the resilience of our nursing staff, these brilliant people that are standing on the picket lines today, losing another day’s pay. They are saying patients have had enough, they have had enough.

“They’re not willing to continue to see their NHS managing every day within a crisis.

“They’re trying to bring their NHS back from the brink and they will continue to do this for as long as this Government takes to listen to them.”

Mental health minister Maria Caulfield suggested it would cost “billions of pounds” to reopen this year’s pay settlement for nurses in England because the Government would have to do the same for other public sector workers.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the “door is firmly open” to further talks with health unions regarding next year’s pay process.

Asked if there is a “possibility” negotiations could include looking at 2022/23 pay, she said: “The Secretary of State and the Prime Minister have been clear that that would be extremely difficult to do because it wouldn’t just be for nurses; you would have teachers saying, ‘Could we open this year’s pay settlement?’. You’ve got ambulance drivers, rail workers…

“There is a range of public sector workers who would also want the same request. Across the board, you’re talking about billions of pounds to pay for that and we want to put that into frontline services, as we are doing now.”