Striking nurses would return to work for emergencies, says RCN head

 

 Striking nurses would return to work for emergencies, says RCN head

 

Pat Cullen denies claims by health secretary that he engaged with union over weekend as action in England continues into Monday

 

Sammy Gecsoyler

Mon 1 May 2023 10.24 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/01/striking-nurses-would-return-to-work-for-emergencies-says-rcn-head

 

NHS nurses staging the latest strike in England on Monday would return to work if emergencies arise, their union leader has confirmed.

 

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Pat Cullen, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “Our nurses will continue to work today to ensure our patients are kept safe, and those nurses that are on the picket lines losing a day’s pay, should there be other emergencies that arise during that period, I won’t even have to ask those nurses to return to work, they will return at their own volition.”

 

She said the RCN, whose members are taking industrial action in England, has granted “the majority if not all of the exemptions requested” for some nurses in critical care to work during the industrial action.

 

Cullen also disputed the claim by Steve Barclay, the health secretary, that he had been engaging with the RCN over the weekend.

 

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Cullen said: “I have had absolutely no talks with Steve Barclay over the weekend, that’s factually incorrect.” She also said she had not spoken with any of his officials either.

 

The strike, which began at 8pm on Sunday and is set to end just before midnight on Monday, is likely to cause major disruption to NHS services.

 

NHS England warned the strikes “will have a significant impact upon planned and routine care”.

 

A high court judge had ruled it would be unlawful for the industrial action to continue into Tuesday as originally planned.

 

The strike by the RNC will coincide with industrial action from NHS Unite members.

 

Monday will also see NHS workers march in central London. Unite said the march would coincide with a strike by its members in Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation trust and the Yorkshire ambulance service.

 

Nurses at Great Ormond Street hospital (GOSH) will continue to work after the hospital voiced “serious concerns” about patient safety during the walkout.

 

Last month, RCN members rejected the government’s offer of a 5% pay rise this year and a cash payment for last year. The union’s leadership had recommended its members accept the offer.