RCN Nurses Set to Strike Across England’s Biggest Hospitals
Strike action is looming in 131 NHS trusts across England, with nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) voting overwhelmingly to walk out before the year’s end. Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are also joining the disruption, with strikes confirmed in multiple health organisations across the UK.
Sussex Hospitals on Strike Alert
Several key Sussex NHS trusts have secured mandates to strike, signalling major disruption to local healthcare services. The organisations set to take action include:
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
RCN Chief Issues Powerful Warning
Pat Cullen, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the RCN, fired a rallying cry to striking nurses and the government alike:
“I want to thank every member who took part and supported this ballot. The results are strong and clear. This is a defining moment in our history. Our fight will continue through strike action and beyond until we win justice for nurses and our patients.”
“Our members are saying enough is enough. The voice of nursing is loud and will be heard. We won’t tolerate living on a financial knife-edge at home and getting a raw deal at work.”
“Ministers must ask themselves how long they will keep pushing nurses to breaking point. Next week’s budget is their chance to invest seriously and halt this crisis.”
“This strike is not just for nurses—it is for patients too. Standards are falling too low, and the public supports our campaign to raise them. This winter, we call on the public to stand with nursing staff.”
Why Nurses Are Striking Now
The postal ballot ran from 6 October to 2 November after NHS pay offers earlier this year left experienced nurses 20% worse off in real terms compared to ten years ago. The RCN says this pay squeeze is pushing vital frontline staff to breaking point.
Detailed strike plans and dates are set to be announced soon, but the message is clear: the nursing crisis has reached a boiling point, and UK hospitals should brace for impact.
