The Socialist Party stands in solidarity with the striking nurses and all other working people who have felt the need to take industrial action.
The Royal College of Nursing said its members had been given no choice after ministers refused to reopen pay talks. The RCN has to ensure life-preserving care continues during the 12-hour strike and vital urgent care such as chemotherapy and kidney dialysis along with intensive and critical care, children's accident and emergency and hospital neonatal units, but not routine treatment as in pre-booked appointments such as hernia repair, hip replacements or outpatient clinics.
The RCN’s general secretary, Pat Cullen explained, “Nurses are not relishing this,” she said. “We are acting with a very heavy heart...Nursing staff on picket lines is a sign of failure on the part of governments.”
"Nurses have had enough - we are underpaid and undervalued," nurse anaesthetist and local RCN steward Lyndsay Thompson, says. "Yes, this is a pay dispute but it's also very much about patient safety. The fact we cannot recruit enough nurses means patient safety is being put at risk."
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