Nursing staff are the backbone of the NHS and health care in the UK, and I’m supporting the RCN nursing strikes.
They don’t want to strike but have been pushed into taking drastic measures because of the actions of the government.
The NHS has saved my life and been there for my children and family throughout their lives. Over the past few months, as I’ve been going through chemotherapy treatment for cancer, I’ve been under the care of nursing staff.
Although cancer services are well-staffed in my area, it took a long time to get a GP appointment when I first realised my cancer might have returned (I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012). It took around four months from seeing a GP to getting my first treatment.
Although the pandemic had an impact on pressures in the NHS, underfunding and staff shortages have been happening for a long time.
People are not dying because of strikes, but because of workforce shortages
The nursing staff caring for me during my treatment have been outstanding. To encourage more people into nursing we need to pay them a fair and decent wage. How can we expect people to train as nurses when pay and conditions are unacceptable?
We do not want to be in a position where we have huge health inequalities because of a private health system. We need a properly funded NHS to ensure we have a healthy and happy population.
Nursing staff have had a real-terms pay cut due to inflation. We need the government to sit down with the RCN and offer a pay deal that is above inflation, and they also need backdated pay.
People are not dying because of strikes, but because of workforce shortages, pressure and underfunding in the NHS.
Jonny: ‘People do support nursing staff’
I’ve been in hospital in a serious condition. I nearly died. Obviously, I appreciate what they’ve done for me. People aren’t swallowing the rhetoric the government’s putting out, that they’re blaming the nurses for the cancelled operations. People know what the problem is. The problem is the government.
Diana: ‘I would 100% support further nursing strikes’
What I would say to nursing staff is: keep doing what you’re doing. You’re being heard. You’re not being overlooked. We appreciate all your efforts in the NHS.
RCN Strike Fund
Nursing staff across the UK are taking strike action to protect patients. During strike action, nursing staff forfeit a day's wage for each day of action they take part in. To protect nursing staff from the financial impacts of this fight, the RCN Strike Fund is there. Striking staff whose pay is docked can receive an RCN Strike Benefit payment for every day of official action they join:
- Are you an RCN member? Find out how to claim RCN Strike Benefit here.
- Are you a public supporter? You can help strengthen picket lines with a donation to the RCN Strike Fund. Donate today.
For up-to-date information on our strike action:
