![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/nurses-vote-for-strike-with-walk-outs-this-winter/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/medical-students-seen-holding-placards-749591690-1.jpg&description=NHS strikes could cause chaos for six months as nurses prepare to stage their first walk-outs before Christmas. Health chiefs today vowed to "minimise harm" to patients amid fears that cancer treatments, children's care and other operations will be cancelled or postponed. NHS strikes could cause chaos for six months, as operations and procedures face being cancelled or postponedCredit: Getty The Royal College of Nursing announced an "historic" strike yesterday, after members voted in favour of action calling for fair pay and better standards to help ensure patient safetyCredit: Getty Images - Getty Medical students joined nurses and other healthcare stuff to protest in July after they demanded a pay riseCredit: The Mega Agency On Wednesday, the Royal College of Nursing, which has more than 300,000 members, announced the majority had voted in favour of the "historic" strike action. Staff at 117 NHS trusts in England will stage walk-outs, which could last until May next year. It comes as ministers have refused to meet the RCN's demands for an 18 per cent pay rise in next week's budget. There are fears the disruption will heap more pressure on the NHS at a time when the latest figures show waiting lists have hit another new high - with 7.1million patients waiting to start treatment at the end of September - up from 7million in August. RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, said: "Anger has become action - our members are saying enough is enough. "We will no longer tolerate a financial knife-edge at home and a raw deal at work. "While we plan our strike action, next week's budget is the UK government's opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. "Politicians have the power to stop this now and at any point." Scroll down for the full list of NHS trusts affected Health Secretary Steve Barclay branded the decision to take strike action "disappointing", and insisted the RCN's demands are "out of step" with the current economic climate. Downing Street said the){kind=link}
NHS strikes could cause chaos for six months as nurses prepare to stage their first walk-outs before Christmas.
Health chiefs today vowed to “minimise harm” to patients amid fears that cancer treatments, children’s care and other operations will be cancelled or postponed.
On Wednesday, the Royal College of Nursing, which has more than 300,000 members, announced the majority had voted in favour of the “historic” strike action.
Staff at 117 NHS trusts in England will stage walk-outs, which could last until May next year.
It comes as ministers have refused to meet the RCN’s demands for an 18 per cent pay rise in next week’s budget.