UK nurses strike: Biggest-ever nursing strike in NHS history commences today

Nurses from all across the United Kingdom started the biggest-ever countrywide strike in the history of the NHS. Tens of thousands of nurses in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have started a historic strike today at 8 a.m. Selfless employees were compelled to launch the historic protest because the Tory administration was unable to reach a salary agreement.

For the uninitiated, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) demanded a 19 per cent salary increase, which the UK government deemed unaffordable.

Numerous hospitals in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have picket lines in place, and hundreds of NHS procedures and appointments are canceled. The staff will still give "life-preserving" care and some urgent care, but regular surgery and other planned treatments are likely to be interrupted by this strike.


According to an Ipsos poll, 52 per cent of the British population favors the strikes, with only 27 per cent against them.

Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the RCN, urged the government to "do the decent thing" and settle the conflict before the year is over. Speaking with BBC Breakfast, she referred to the strike as "a tragic day in nursing."


"We need to stand up for our health service, we need to find a way of addressing those over seven million people that are sitting on waiting lists, and how are we going to do that? By making sure we have got the nurses to look after our patients, not with 50,000 vacant posts, and with it increasing day by day," she said.

As many as 51 out of 219 hospitals, mental health trusts, and community services in England are participating in the first wave of strikes. All of the health boards in Northern Ireland are now experiencing strikes, as are all except one in Wales, the Aneurin Bevan. On December 20, the second day of strike action will take place unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations.

FAQs:

1. What is the NHS in the UK?
   The National Health Service (NHS) is one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom and the publicly supported healthcare system in England.
2. What is the annual budget of the NHS?
   The annual budget of the NHS is £190.3 billion in 2022.