A significant number of NHS trusts across have declared major clinical incidents.
Nurses and other NHS workers face the most brutal winter yet as MPs head home to spend Christmas with their families.
Just days before Christmas, a significant number of NHS trusts have declared major clinical incidents due to unprecedented pressure on services.
Hospitals are pleading with patients to avoid attending Accident & Emergency Department or calling 999 unless it is a genuine life-threatening emergency.
It comes as nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland spent two full days on the picket line. The dispute isn’t just about pay; working conditions for nursing staff have hit an all-time low as unfilled nursing vacancies hit a record 50,000 and the number of student nurses falls.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has refused to discuss nurses’ pay demands.
Two days till Christmas.
Speaking at the end of the Royal College of Nursing‘s (RCN) second day of strike action, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen, said: “Today, the Prime Minister looked out of step with the country he leads. But he could still make this the last nurse strike of his premiership.
“With the end of today’s strike, a clock is running for the Prime Minister. There are two days for us to meet and begin to turn this around by Christmas.
Ms Cullen goes on to add, “By Friday, we will be announcing the dates and hospitals for a strike next month.
“Westminster may be shutting for Christmas tonight but nursing staff are readying for their shifts over the next two weeks and looking at the new year with trepidation. We are not looking for a miracle, just the fair pay and recognition that is in the Prime Minister’s gift.”
