Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on the picket line outside Great Ormond Street Hospital
(Picture: PA)It is a day the British public probably never expected: nurses across the country out on strike.
The latest wave of industrial action in the NHS is the sad conclusion of years of frustration over pay and working conditions, sharpened by a pandemic that stretched the health service to its limit.
There could not possibly be a worse time for industrial action in the NHS, with more than 7.2 million people waiting for routine hospital treatment and record waits in A&E.
But, no one understands these challenges better than frontline nurses who have put this at the core of their message to the public - highlighting how staff shortages are having a devastating impact on patient care.
What may have started as a pay dispute between ministers and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), many months ago, has snowballed into an existential crisis for Britain’s health service as ambulance staff, physiotherapists and potentially even junior doctors prepare to join nurses on the picket line in coming weeks.
The battle for public opinion
The impact of Thursday’s nursing strikes on patients will vary greatly from region to region. Nurses are walking out in just five employers in London compared to 13 in the South West, which has many of the NHS’ worst national performance statistics.
Further strikes in January, if confirmed, would see industrial action at more hospitals and compound the disruption facing patients.
Briefings from Government insiders, earlier in December, suggested Health Secretary Steve Barclay could be hoping public opinion will turn against the nurses.
But, this is a dangerous game with an uncertain outcome: the latest Ipsos poll found that 52 per cent of the public backed nurses taking strike action with 27 per cent opposed.
Mr Barclay has highlighted the union’s “unreasonable” demand for a 19 per cent pay rise, but RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen has indicated she may be willing to compromise. In Scotland, strikes were called off after Holyrood struck a deal for a pay rise of around 7.5 per cent with up to 11.2 per cent for the bottom pay bands.
But the Cabinet minister has repeatedly insisted that the £1,400 annual pay rise awarded to NHS staff will not increase. He will not meet about pay - the union’s main reason for going on strike.
Mr Barclay claims that he “hugely values” the work that nurses do, but that awarding a significant pay rise would embed inflation.
But by refusing at the outset to discuss pay at all, Mr Barclay leaves himself vulnerable.
Will Barclay be forced to the table?
Sir Jake Berry, the former Conservative chairman, told TalkTV on Wednesday that the Government’s pay offer to nurses was “far too low”. Health Committee Chairman Steve Brine has said the RCN is “1-0 up” against Mr Barclay and suggested he could equalise by meeting them to discuss pay.
With industrial action likely to stretch into the New Year and beyond, the RCN and other health unions will need to keep the public on their side. This will include ensuring services such as urgent cancer care continue (which has been confirmed) and preventing ministers from pinning the blame for the winter NHS crisis squarely on striking workers.
There is no movement from Mr Barclay and the Government appears to fear that awarding a significant pay rise to one union would force them to concede to others. Strikes are ongoing on Britain’s railways and will soon begin at the borders.
Unfortunately, all of the signs point toward a bitter, drawn-out dispute. But, as the crisis deepens and engulfs the Government, Mr Barclay may find that the negotiating table offers the easiest route out.
