Midwives across Nottinghamshire have been urged to strike over pay. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM), which represents most UK midwives and maternity support workers (MSW), is calling for its members to vote for industrial action for only the second time in its 142 year history.
Midwives at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) and Sherwood Forest Hospital, meaning maternity departments at Queen's Medical Centre, as well as City, Kings Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals could face walk outs. The RCM's balloting of its 30,000 members comes just one day after the Royal College of Nursing announced Nottinghamshire NHS trusts would be hit by nurse strikes.
The government said the decision was "deeply regrettable". RCM said the decision to ballot was made after a consultation which saw members overwhelmingly reject the government's four per cent pay award.
Read more: Nurses across Nottinghamshire set to walk out after backing strike
Executive director trade union, Dr Suzanne Tyler, said midwives and MSWs have been pushed to the brink and that the latest pay offer was the "last straw". "It clearly shows that governments do not value the skills, dedication, and incredible commitment of midwives and MSWs," she said.
"It also shows that they either don’t understand or simply don’t care about the financial pressures facing our members and their NHS colleagues. It is scandalous and shameful that in one of the world’s richest countries we have highly trained professionals having to use food banks to feed their families and think hard about whether they turn the heating on. The decision to take industrial action will not be one midwives and MSWs take lightly. But they clearly feel they have no other recourse than this.”
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We are all hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, including nurses, and deeply regret that some union members have voted for industrial action. These are challenging times, which is why we accepted the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in full and have given over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year.
"This is on top of a 3% pay increase last year when public sector pay was frozen and wider government support with the cost of living. Our priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes. The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to minimise disruption and ensure emergency services continue to operate.”
Read next:
Imminent Bulwell GP practice takeover as patients' registration details transferred
Staff at closed West Bridgford care home 'laughed at resident shouting for help'
Nottingham hospitals 'still have a way to go' as as trusts fail to meet cancer targets
Notts mental health hospital remains in special measures over medication and restraint concerns
