Nurses Threaten Fresh NHS Strikes in February
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned of strikes on 6 and 7 February if pay talks with UK and Welsh governments don’t progress by the end of January.
The RCN blasted: “We’re escalating nursing strikes on 6 and 7 February after governments refuse to seriously negotiate.”
Governments Accused of Refusing Talks
Despite talks last week, the Welsh government failed to offer a “substantive and restorative” pay rise for 2022/23. Meanwhile, the UK government has refused to enter formal negotiations that could halt strikes.
“Our dispute is about NHS pay for this financial year and the governments have so far wasted chances to avert strike action.”
Recent Strikes Hit NHS Across England and Wales
The RCN’s first strikes hit on 15 and 20 December in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. More walkouts took place on 18 and 19 January, affecting several NHS trusts in the South East.
South East NHS Trusts Hit by January Walkouts
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- NHS Kent and Medway ICB – 18 & 19 Jan
- NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB – 18 & 19 Jan
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
- Solent NHS Trust – 18 & 19 Jan
The escalating strikes put urgent pressure on the government to settle the NHS pay dispute before more frontline chaos unfolds.
