 The Royal College of Nursing says many of its members have seen pay fall by 20% in real terms since 2010. A survey of hospital bosses by NHS Providers in September revealed that 27% had set up food banks to support nurses. Nursing vacancies are at a record high, meaning staff are stretched and regularly working beyond the end of their shifts. Latest figures suggest there are now more than 47,000 unfilled NHS nursing roles across the UK. The RCN says thousands of 'burned out, underpaid nursing staff' have left the profession in the past 12 months. Nursing student numbers are also falling with latest UCAS figures showing a 7% drop in applicants accepted onto nursing courses compared with the previous year. The NHS is facing a winter of discontent ( PA) Thousands of NHS operations and appointment){kind=link}
For the first time in its 106-year history, the Royal College of Nursing balloted its 300,000 NHS members and nurses at 175 trusts or services plan to strike over pay and working conditions
After years of real-term pay cuts, furious nurses have finally snapped and will now stage Âunprecedented mass walkouts.
The dedicated NHS workers were pushed over the edge by No10’s latest offer of 4%, with inflation at 12.6%.
For the first time in its 106-year history, the Royal College of Nursing balloted its 300,000 NHS members and nurses at 175 trusts or services plan to strike.
RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said: “Anger has become action, our members are saying enough is enough.”