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Strikes have been and are scheduled almost every day this month – Merry Christmas.
Today, up to 100,000 nurses are taking part in industrial action in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The strike will take place for 12 hours – from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
It is the second day of this month that the nurses are going out, having also gone to the picket lines on December 15.
On top of that, driving examiners are again out of tools today after several consecutive days of action.
Some driving tests could be affected – with people advised to check the government website for more information.
The strike is part of a nationwide industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) over wages, pensions, jobs and firing conditions.
The nursing protests will affect 44 trusts, but the NHS said it had taken steps to operate despite the shortage of workers.
Most of the preparations have taken place locally, but nationally, hospitals with the capacity have stood ready to step in to help if needed.
The NHS has also discussed additional support from the independent sector, the voluntary sector and social care.
Hospitals will prioritize urgent and emergency care while “doing everything possible to preserve planned care.”
“But a strike will inevitably lead to disruption,” NHS England warned.
It said: ‘No one should delay seeking emergency care. Key vital services are expected to continue.
“Patients with non-life-threatening conditions are likely to experience delays in accessing emergency care at relevant trusts and during ambulance strikes.
“Patients should attend as usual during strike days. Some scheduled care appointments may be rescheduled.
“Hospitals will contact patients directly if their appointments need to be rescheduled due to industrial action.”
The two days of protests are the first time members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have staged strikes in the union’s history.
Members are striking for real pay cuts and have to operate in an environment of staff shortages.
They called for a salary increase of more than 19% to take into account inflation and the financial difficulties of many in the sector despite years of grueling work during the pandemic.
But the government is reluctant to allow big hikes for any sector for fear of setting a precedent that could see wage growth contribute to record levels of inflation.
Talks aimed at avoiding a walkout between the MRC and the government failed last Monday evening.
MRC’s Pat Cullen said: “For a lot of us it’s our first time hitting and our emotions are really mixed. The NHS is in crisis, the nursing profession can’t take it anymore, our loved ones are already suffering.
“It is not unreasonable to demand better. It’s not something that can wait. We are committed to our patients and always will be.
NHS Trusts that will be affected:
England
London
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
NHS North Central London ICB
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
East Midlands
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Is
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridgeshire Foundation and Peterborough NHS Trust
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
North West
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS has found confidence
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Clatterbridge Cancer Center NHS found trust
The Walton Center NHS Foundation Trust
North
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
South East
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
South West
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB (BSW Together)
NHS Devon ICB (One Devon)
NHS Gloucestershire ICB (One Gloucestershire)
North Bristol NHS Trust
Royal Devon University NHS Health Foundation Trust
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
West Midlands
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB (BSol ICB)
The Royal Orthopedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Yorkshire and Humer
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
The NHS Trust of Leeds Teaching Hospitals
National employers
NHS England
North Ireland
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Northern Health and Welfare Trust
Western Health and Social Care Trust
Southern Trust for Health and Social Care
South East Health and Welfare Trust
Wales
Cardiff and Vale University Health Council
Powys Local Teaching Health Board
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Head Office
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Swansea Bay University Health Council
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board
Velindre NHS Trust
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