The move is designed to break the deadlock and prevent months of disruption.
Health unions in England are preparing to announce all-our strike action.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is reportedly preparing to announce more disruptive strike action after the government has ignored the union’s calls for improved pay for nursing staff.
A continuous strike will run for 48 hours through two days and two nights and an all-out strike would call on previously derogated areas, such as intensive care and emergency departments, to join the picket lines.
The move by the union is designed to break the deadlock and prevent months of disruption.
A NursingNotes survey found that the vast majority (71%) support ramping up strike action.
According to the Guardian, the union informed NHS leaders, Downing Street and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Friday, causing alarm amongst Ministers.
It after within hours of MPs being handed nearly double the pay rise of exhausted NHS workers.
Fair and affordable.
During the last strike, the union agreed to around 5,000 derogations from strike action.
A union insider told the newspaper, “NHS leaders are fearing this escalation and they must bring pressure to bear on government to get it stopped.
“They were expecting an escalation but had not prepared for the removal of the committees and derogation process that too many had manipulated at local level.
They went on to warn, bullying by hospital management was a bit issue during the last strike.
The DHSC responded to the news by claiming the Health Secretary was set on making a “fair and affordable” pay offer at the next pay round rather than discussing last year’s award.
Adding, “It is disappointing that the RCN are escalating their strikes. Industrial action in the NHS is already having an impact on patients, with more than 80,000 appointments cancelled.
“These further walkouts, with less strike-day cover being promised, will worsen that impact and put more patients at risk.”
