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NHS staff strike: 'Robust' plans to counter action NHS staff strike: 'Robust' plans to counter action
(35 minutes later)
Patient safety must be our priority, England's chief nursing officer has said, ahead of the first strike by NHS staff over pay in more than 30 years. "Robust plans" are in place ahead of the first strike by NHS staff over pay in more than 30 years, England's chief nursing officer has said.
Jane Cummings said "robust plans" were in place and urged patients to "bear with us". Jane Cummings said patient safety was a priority, but urged staff to "think carefully" about Monday's action.
She said staff were "professional" and would "think carefully" about action. Nurses, midwives and ambulance staff are among workers from six unions in England and Northern Ireland set to walk out from 07:00 BST until 11:00.
Nurses, midwives and ambulance staff are among workers in England and Northern Ireland expected to walk out from 07:00 BST until 11:00 on Monday. The Royal College of Midwives said it just wanted staff to be treated fairly.
The strike by six unions is mainly taking place in England, although members of the GMB and Unite unions in Northern Ireland are involved. The action is mainly taking place in England but members of the GMB and Unite unions in Northern Ireland are involved.
Members want a 1% pay rise to be implemented for all staff but the NHS has said this will cost too much.
Services could be disrupted although urgent and emergency care - including maternity units - are not being targeted.Services could be disrupted although urgent and emergency care - including maternity units - are not being targeted.
The strike is intended to disrupt more routine areas of care, which could result in patient transport services not running and antenatal and postnatal clinics being cancelled.The strike is intended to disrupt more routine areas of care, which could result in patient transport services not running and antenatal and postnatal clinics being cancelled.
Ms Cummings appealed to staff taking part in the strike to think about their patients.Ms Cummings appealed to staff taking part in the strike to think about their patients.
"They do the job which is hard, they work very hard and they put the safety of patients first," she told the BBC."They do the job which is hard, they work very hard and they put the safety of patients first," she told the BBC.
"So I would say to staff, I know that you are professional, I know that you will think very carefully about any action you take tomorrow. But our patient safety must be our priority and I know that's what staff will be thinking of.""So I would say to staff, I know that you are professional, I know that you will think very carefully about any action you take tomorrow. But our patient safety must be our priority and I know that's what staff will be thinking of."
She warned Monday could be busier than usual because of the strike action.She warned Monday could be busier than usual because of the strike action.
But added: "I would say to members of the public, bear with us. We have got very robust plans in place."But added: "I would say to members of the public, bear with us. We have got very robust plans in place."
'Life and limb cover''Life and limb cover'
The unions taking part have more than 400,000 members in the NHS in England out of 1.3 million staff.The unions taking part have more than 400,000 members in the NHS in England out of 1.3 million staff.
However, not all of them will be involved because some will continue to provide what the unions have called "life and limb cover".However, not all of them will be involved because some will continue to provide what the unions have called "life and limb cover".
The walkout will be followed by four days of working-to-rule from Tuesday.The walkout will be followed by four days of working-to-rule from Tuesday.
The unions involved include:
The RCM is taking action for the first time in its history.
Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations, said a 1% pay increase across for all staff was "not unrealistic", adding that the current settlement meant a pay cut for many members.
"Just recently a report said that in London alone the health service was wasting about £384m a year on agency staff," he said.
"There are ways of getting around that kind of waste - and one of the ways of doing that is to treat the existing staff in the NHS fairly."
NHS workers voted in favour of strike action over pay last month.NHS workers voted in favour of strike action over pay last month.
The government has given NHS staff a 1% pay rise, but not for those who get automatic progression-in-the-job rises.The government has given NHS staff a 1% pay rise, but not for those who get automatic progression-in-the-job rises.
Those increases are given to about half of staff and are worth 3% a year on average.Those increases are given to about half of staff and are worth 3% a year on average.
The decision by ministers went against the recommendation of the independent pay review board, which called for an across-the-board rise.The decision by ministers went against the recommendation of the independent pay review board, which called for an across-the-board rise.
The unions involved include:
In Northern Ireland, only Unite and GMB members are involved.