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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Charlotte Hawes

When nurses will strike and why NHS staff are taking industrial action

NHS nurses across the UK have voted in favour of a national strike for the first time in the Royal College of Nursing's (RNC) 106-year history.

The union balloted its 300,000 NHS membership as a large majority of nurses across the county voted for industrial action.

The strike will be the first of its kind, with RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen calling it a “once in a generation chance to improve your pay and combat staff shortages” that put patients at risk.

But when will nurses go on strike and which NHS trusts will be affected?

Here's everything you need to know.

When will NHS nurses go on strike?

RCN is yet to announce strike dates (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The nurse's union is yet to confirm strike dates following the ballot.

However, it is likely that they will take place in early to mid-December and over the space of two days ahead of Christmas.

Why are nurses going on strike?

RCN nurses will strike in response to a £1,400 pay rise announced by the Government - which after inflation will be a significant real terms pay cut for staff.

This worked out at around 4% pay rise on average, while nurses in Scotland were given a 5% rise before inflation. Both proposals have been rejected by unions.

The increase falls short of the current RPI rate of inflation, which is 12.6%, and unions are demanding an above-inflation rise.

The news comes after a YouGov poll showed 65% of the public support nurses going on strike - up from 60% just three months ago.

How will the strikes affect the NHS?

NHS trusts across the UK will take part in strike action (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The RCN ballot was carried out at a service level, which means that each hospital has to clear a 50% turnout threshold to be able to take part in the strike action.

All NHS employers in Northern Ireland and Scotland will be included and all bar one in Wales met the relevant legal turnout threshold.

130 NHS Trusts have chosen to strike in England, 12 in Wales, 23 in Scotland and 11 in Northern Ireland.

Some of the biggest hospitals in England will see strikes, including Guys and St Thomas in London, which is opposite the House of Commons

The ballot rules mean that the strikes will take place on a trust by trust basis, but the union is looking at ways they could be coordinated.

It has previously made clear critical and lifesaving care will not be affected.

The Government stated it has plans for dealing with the strikes amid the growing threat of widespread strikes in the NHS.

The winter strike will mean parts of the NHS will run a Bank Holiday service with elective procedures cancelled.

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