Nurses across the country will walk out today in an historic national strike by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Members of the RCN at all Liverpool's hospitals will walk out today, with another day of action due to be held on Tuesday, December 20.
Royal College of Nursing members working on Agenda for Change contracts at hospital trusts across the country will be on strike today. This includes Liverpool's main hospitals - the Royal, Aintree, Broadgreen, Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital - as well as the city's heart and chest hospital, the Walton Centre, the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and the Mersey Care mental health trust.
READ MORE: Live updates as nurses strike and walk out across Liverpool
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said the strike is "deeply regrettable", but added that patients should seek emergency care if they needed it, or dial NHS 111 for less urgent care and advice.
Mr Barclay said: “Our nurses are incredibly dedicated to their job and it is deeply regrettable some union members are going ahead with strike action. My number one priority is to keep patients safe – I’ve been working across government and with medics outside the public sector to ensure safe staffing levels – but I do remain concerned about the risk that strikes pose to patients.
"Nevertheless, the NHS is open and patients should continue to seek urgent medical care – and attend appointments, unless they’ve been contacted by the NHS."
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