Our National Director responds to NHS strikes
Commenting on the announcement, our national director Louise Ansari said: “The NHS is currently facing pressures across the whole system, with staff capacity shrinking when patients’ needs are increasing.
“At a time when a record number of people are waiting for hospital treatment, and many are yet to be diagnosed, the news of potential strikes will be concerning to patients and the wider public.
"And that is why we encourage all parties to find a way to ensure the care of patients is not adversely affected this winter. We ask health and care services to announce what contingency planning is in place and issue clear and timely communications to patients and service users about any change to their care, and to minimise potential delays to treatment.”
In Lewisham and Greenwich, not enough RCN members voted in favour of strike action this time. Other unions are also balloting members about potential strikes over the winter, however.
Ben Travis, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust CEO, said: “It is a sign of the really difficult times we are in that the RCN held this strike ballot – and that so many nurses across the country have voted in favour of strike action. I hope that all sides will be able to come together and find a way to resolve this dispute. In the meantime, we will continue to work hard, in close partnership with the Unions as always, to prepare for other potential strikes."
More information available on the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust website.
Unison has announced that thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their colleagues working for ambulance services in the North East, North West, London, Yorkshire and the South West are to be called out on strike over pay and staffing levels following a ballot. Dates have yet to be announced but action is expected to take place before Christmas.
