RCN nurses strike outside of Kidderminster Hospital

The Royal College of Nursing is staging two days of action with picket lines formed up and down the country.

A group of nurses braved the cold weather to make their voices heard outside Kidderminster Hospital.

They held up placards stating ‘its time to pay nursing staff fairly’ and ‘staff shortages cost lives’.

Union leaders have implored the government to act to prevent further strike action but ministers in England have indicated that they will not budge on one of the main points of contention – pay for 2022/23.

A picket line was formed outside of Kidderminster Hospital. Image/ Cam Smart from SMART Photography. (Image: Cam Smart from SMART Photography.)

Upheaval is expected across England as nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) stage walkouts alongside GMB and Unite paramedics, call handlers and other staff at ambulance trusts.

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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.

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NHS leaders said it will be 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.

RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Nurses are striking because people are dying.

“That is how severe things are in the NHS and it is time the Prime Minister led a fight for its future.

“Today’s record number of unfilled nurse jobs cannot be left to get worse. Pay nursing staff fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve.”