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| Critical hospital services can call in striking nurses | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Union leaders have agreed nurses can be called in during Sunday's strike to provide a minimal level of staffing in intensive care and for trauma services. | Union leaders have agreed nurses can be called in during Sunday's strike to provide a minimal level of staffing in intensive care and for trauma services. |
| A walkout by Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will start at 20:00 BST and run until the end of Monday. | A walkout by Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will start at 20:00 BST and run until the end of Monday. |
| NHS England said "positive discussions" with the RCN had resulted in agreements to ensure staff would provide cover. | NHS England said "positive discussions" with the RCN had resulted in agreements to ensure staff would provide cover. |
| The government has said the escalating strike action "risks patient safety". | The government has said the escalating strike action "risks patient safety". |
| Sunday's strike is the largest industrial action so far, NHS England said, warning patients to expect "disruptions and delays to services over the strike period". | Sunday's strike is the largest industrial action so far, NHS England said, warning patients to expect "disruptions and delays to services over the strike period". |
| However, it said discussions over the weekend had secured "a number of national agreements" to ensure staff could provide care "to protect life and limb services". | However, it said discussions over the weekend had secured "a number of national agreements" to ensure staff could provide care "to protect life and limb services". |
| These will cover intensive care units, including for neonatal and paediatric care, as well as major trauma and resuscitation units. | These will cover intensive care units, including for neonatal and paediatric care, as well as major trauma and resuscitation units. |
| When are nurses and ambulance workers striking? | When are nurses and ambulance workers striking? |
| "These mitigations do not represent a return to standard staffing," said Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England. "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." | "These mitigations do not represent a return to standard staffing," said Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England. "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." |
| An RCN spokesperson told the BBC that a "national agreement was reached on raising staffing levels in some key areas to preserve life and limb", adding that this strike would be "more intense" than previous ones. | An RCN spokesperson told the BBC that a "national agreement was reached on raising staffing levels in some key areas to preserve life and limb", adding that this strike would be "more intense" than previous ones. |
| This means a small number of RCN members will be asked to work to provide a minimum standard of cover and meet the legal requirement on trade unions for life-and-limb cover to be provided. | |
| Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the granting of exemptions was "progress". | Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the granting of exemptions was "progress". |
| The strike was called earlier this month after RCN members rejected a government offer to nurses in England of a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year's salary, depending on staff grade. | The strike was called earlier this month after RCN members rejected a government offer to nurses in England of a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year's salary, depending on staff grade. |
| RCN leadership had recommended members accept the offer but it was rejected by 54% to 46%. | RCN leadership had recommended members accept the offer but it was rejected by 54% to 46%. |
| During nursing strikes earlier this year, in January and February, wider national exemptions were in place, meaning nursing cover was maintained in other critical areas. | During nursing strikes earlier this year, in January and February, wider national exemptions were in place, meaning nursing cover was maintained in other critical areas. |
| Health Secretary Steve Barclay said Sunday's escalating strike action "risks patient safety". | Health Secretary Steve Barclay said Sunday's escalating strike action "risks patient safety". |
| "These strikes will put more pressure on the NHS and will be incredibly disruptive for patients," he said. | "These strikes will put more pressure on the NHS and will be incredibly disruptive for patients," he said. |
| The industrial action comes ahead of a crucial meeting between unions, ministers and NHS bosses on Tuesday. | The industrial action comes ahead of a crucial meeting between unions, ministers and NHS bosses on Tuesday. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Nursing | Nursing |
| NHS | NHS |
| Royal College of Nursing | Royal College of Nursing |