England’s Biggest Hospitals Brace for Massive Nurse Strikes
NHS staff at 131 organisations across England are gearing up for strike action. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members have voted overwhelmingly to walk out. Similar strikes are planned in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Industrial action is expected to kick off before the end of the year, with detailed plans to be revealed soon.
Sussex in the Strike Spotlight
Several major NHS trusts in Sussex have secured mandates for strike action. The full list includes:
- 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 Boss Issues Fiery Warning to Government
“I want to thank every member who took part in, or supported, this ballot. You can be very proud. The results are strong and clear,” said RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen.
“This is a defining moment in our history. We will fight on with strike action and beyond to win justice for the nursing profession and our patients.”
“Our members have had enough. They’re done with making financial sacrifices and getting a raw deal at work.”
“Ministers must ask how much longer they’ll put nursing staff through this. The upcoming budget is the UK government’s last chance to invest seriously and stop this crisis.”
“This strike is as much for patients as it is for nurses. Standards are falling dangerously low, and the public supports our campaign. This winter, we ask the public to stand with nursing staff.”
What Sparked the Strike?
The postal ballot ran from 6 October to 2 November, triggered by NHS pay announcements earlier this year. Experienced nurses revealed they are 20% worse off in real terms compared to ten years ago. The RCN says this pay cut has pushed nurses to a breaking point.
