Biggest nurse strikes in history begin as NHS bosses warn of 'exceptionally low' staff levels for 24 hours

30 April 2023, 23:02

Royal College of Nursing boss Pat Cullen is pictured speaking to the media on Sunday morning
Royal College of Nursing boss Pat Cullen is pictured speaking to the media on Sunday morning. Picture: Alamy

By Adam Solomons

Cancer nurses have gone on strike for the first time as part of a 28-hour walkout by frontline NHS staff that bosses warn will leave hospital staff levels 'exceptionally low'.

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The strike by thousands of members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) began at 8pm on Sunday night and will end at midnight on Monday.

RCN boss Pat Cullen granted last-minute guarantees that staff care will continue at already-stretched hospitals like Great Ormond Street.

Britain's biggest children's hospital said it was "incredibly grateful" to the RCN.

NHS England has warned that staffing levels in some places will be “exceptionally low, lower than on previous strike days”.

Read more: GMB union votes to accept NHS pay offer after Unite rejects deal

Read more: Great Ormond Street declares incident as it fears nurses' strike will seriously damage children's safety at hospital

A display board outside a central London hospital warns patients of upcoming industrial action
A display board outside a central London hospital warns patients of upcoming industrial action. Picture: Alamy

Health Secretary Steve Barclay called the strike "premature" and "disrespectful".

He won a crucial victory at the High Court last week which prevented staff from continuing the walkouts into Tuesday.

Meanwhile the NHS Staff Council of health unions, employers and Government representatives will discuss the Government’s 5% pay offer on Monday.

Junior doctors participate in a strike earlier this month
Junior doctors participate in a strike earlier this month. Picture: Alamy

Ms Cullen told Sky News on Sunday: “There are national exemptions in place for a range of services, for emergency departments, for intensive care units, for neonatal units, paediatric intensive care units, those really acute urgent services.

“In fact, it was the Royal College of Nursing who contacted NHS England to ask for a process to be put in place so that we make sure that the strike was safe for our patients.”

NHS England said those in need of non-urgent care should go to pharmacies or dial 111 first.

NHS staff say they will continue walkouts until the government agrees a pay offer
NHS staff say they will continue walkouts until the government agrees a pay offer. Picture: Alamy

Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “We are grateful to the RCN for agreeing a process of safety critical mitigations and we continue to support all nurses, those who work and those who take industrial action.

“These mitigations do not represent a return to standard staffing. The industrial action will still have a very significant impact on services during the strike period and patients can expect to see longer waits for care.

“The public should use the NHS wisely, with those needing non-urgent care using pharmacies and 111 online as their first port of call. And if you have a life-threatening emergency, please seek help in the usual way by dialling 999.”

David Lammy's take on nurses strike

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