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Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister's claim that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer

Press Release 07/01/2024

Responding to the Prime Minister’s claim on ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:

 

“The Prime Minister is forgetting basic facts – he never reached a pay resolution with nursing staff in the NHS. Our members rejected his pay offer and we remain in dispute.

 

“The government needs to get its act together - it must offer nursing staff a far better pay offer this year. Just this week, nursing staff in Northern Ireland announced they will be taking to picket lines over pay.

 

“Rishi Sunak’s claims about waiting lists increasing because of industrial action have been debunked, but the fact remains they have risen on his watch.

 

“With over 70% of the public backing strike action by nursing staff because of staffing levels, it’s clear the public support nurses continuing to fight for our NHS and our

patients."  

Ends  

Notes to Editors 

On ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ when discussing junior doctors’ strike action, the Prime Minister said: “The Government has now reached resolution with every other part of the NHS, nurses, midwives, paramedics, consultant doctors, specialty doctors most recently.”

A YouGov poll of 2,054 adults in Great Britain between 6-7 December 2023 found:

  • 60% of those polled said they would support nursing staff if they were to go on strike
  • 73% of those polled support nursing staff going on strike in 2024 because of staffing levels
  • 66% of those polled support nursing staff going on strike in 2024 because of pay
  • 85% of people believing there aren’t enough nurses to safely care for patients in the NHS

The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). A breakdown of the polling results is available on the YouGov archive.

Press Office Contacts

Tom Colclough, Head of Media
07891 109 146

Nick Spears, Senior Media Officer
020 7647 3696

Claire Nelson, Senior Media Officer
029 2054 6401

Michael Finlayson, Media Officer
020 7647 3459

Out of hours duty press officer
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