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NHS staff strike: 'Robust' plans to counter action NHS staff strike: 'Robust' plans to counter action
(35 minutes later)
"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."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 patient safety was a priority, but urged staff to "think carefully" about taking part on Monday.Jane Cummings said patient safety was a priority, but urged staff to "think carefully" about taking part on Monday.
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 from six unions in England and Northern Ireland set to walk out from 07:00 BST until 11:00.
The Royal College of Midwives said it just wanted staff to be treated fairly.The Royal College of Midwives said it just wanted staff to be treated fairly.
The action is mainly taking place in England but 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.Members want a 1% pay rise to be implemented for all staff but the NHS has said this will cost too much.
'Bear with us''Bear with us'
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.
Doctors and dentists are not involved, and these services are expected to run as normal.Doctors and dentists are not involved, and these services are expected to run as normal.
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.She warned Monday could be busier than usual because of the strike.
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 unions involved include:
The RCM is taking action for the first time in its history but has said services for women giving birth would not be affected.The RCM is taking action for the first time in its history but has said services for women giving birth would not be affected.
Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations, said a 1% pay increase for all staff was "not unrealistic", adding that the current settlement meant a pay cut for many members.Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations, said a 1% pay increase 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."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.""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."
Automatic rises When workers voted in favour of a strike over pay last month, Unison said "anger" had "turned into action".
Many nurses are not involved as the Royal College of Nursing did not ballot its members. The union has, however, been lobbying the government on pay. 'Minimise impact'
NHS workers voted in favour of strike action over pay last month. "We know health workers don't take strike action lightly or often. The last action over pay was 32 years ago. But we also know a demoralised and de-motivated workforce isn't good for patients," said general secretary Dave Prentis.
"If we move into industrial action we will work with NHS employers to minimise the impact on patients."
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.
Many nurses are not involved as the Royal College of Nursing did not ballot its members. The union has, however, been lobbying the government on pay.