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| Nurses' strike NI: Thousands of nurses go on strike | Nurses' strike NI: Thousands of nurses go on strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 15,500 nurses in Northern Ireland are taking strike action in a dispute over pay and patient safety. | About 15,500 nurses in Northern Ireland are taking strike action in a dispute over pay and patient safety. |
| The Royal College of Nursing represents about 9,000 nurses who walked out at 08:00 GMT - the first time the union has taken strike action in its 103-year history. | The Royal College of Nursing represents about 9,000 nurses who walked out at 08:00 GMT - the first time the union has taken strike action in its 103-year history. |
| About 6,500 other nurses, who are members of Unison, walked out earlier. | About 6,500 other nurses, who are members of Unison, walked out earlier. |
| It follows weeks of industrial action by other healthcare workers over the same issues. | It follows weeks of industrial action by other healthcare workers over the same issues. |
| The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) strike is set to last for 12 hours while many Unison health staff members, including nurses and paramedics, are staging a 24-hour strike. | The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) strike is set to last for 12 hours while many Unison health staff members, including nurses and paramedics, are staging a 24-hour strike. |
| Speaking at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, RCN member Nuala Murray told BBC News NI: "This was incredibly difficult. I've been nursing for 37 years. | Speaking at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, RCN member Nuala Murray told BBC News NI: "This was incredibly difficult. I've been nursing for 37 years. |
| "This is so unprecedented for us to have to strike but nurses are so fed up, they've just had enough. | "This is so unprecedented for us to have to strike but nurses are so fed up, they've just had enough. |
| "Their patients aren't safe and they need to do something." | "Their patients aren't safe and they need to do something." |
| Many appointments and treatments have been cancelled because of the strike, and a number of minor injury units are closed. | Many appointments and treatments have been cancelled because of the strike, and a number of minor injury units are closed. |
| The Health and Social Care Board said all emergency departments would remain open as normal, but would be under significant pressure. | |
| Sean Smyth, whose daughter died last June, joined the picket line at Belfast City Hospital. | |
| "I'm here to show solidarity with the fantastic health workers we have," he said. | |
| "The care and support Eimear got was equally matched by the support they showed me and my family and we'll never be able to thank them. | |
| "Eimear was first treated in England. We have first hand experience of the nursing staff in St James's in Leeds. | |
| "The nurses nurse in England. Here in Belfast we have seen the nurses nurse, clean, cook, do every task there is possible. And the work they do is unbelievable. | |
| "I've witnessed what their colleagues get in England. The pay get and the conditions they work in, the staffing levels compared to ours. It is chalk and cheese, we are the poor country cousin to England, Scotland and Wales. | |
| "Where Eimear died, it was something from the 1980s - a horrible grey room. It's a horrible environment, the facilities are poor. | |
| "Our hospitals need major investment, our staff need major support from our politicians." | |
| 'Undervalued' | 'Undervalued' |
| Mairead Meenan, a staff nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, said the "fair pay" issue had brought her to the picket line. | Mairead Meenan, a staff nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, said the "fair pay" issue had brought her to the picket line. |
| "Everybody wants equal pay and equal rights," she said, adding that nurses in Northern Ireland felt "undervalued" compared to their counterparts doing the same jobs in Great Britain. | "Everybody wants equal pay and equal rights," she said, adding that nurses in Northern Ireland felt "undervalued" compared to their counterparts doing the same jobs in Great Britain. |
| She called on politicians to "start talking" and sort the dispute out. | She called on politicians to "start talking" and sort the dispute out. |
| "You get paid loads and loads of money and you would not last 10 minutes in our job," said Ms Meenan. | "You get paid loads and loads of money and you would not last 10 minutes in our job," said Ms Meenan. |
| One woman, whose appointment at Altnagelvin went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning, came out to support nurses and health workers on the picket line. | |
| She has had two operations at the hospital since May. | |
| "I was extremely well looked after and am very appreciative of all the care I've had," she told BBC News NI. | |
| "I'm also totally disgusted with Stormont and its lack of getting on with sorting out Northern Ireland. | |
| "This wouldn't have happened if they [politicians] had thought about it properly and fought for our good health service." | |
| How bad is Northern Ireland's health crisis? | How bad is Northern Ireland's health crisis? |
| On so many measures, Northern Ireland lags behind the other UK nations when it comes to NHS performance. | On so many measures, Northern Ireland lags behind the other UK nations when it comes to NHS performance. |
| Not only does it has the highest vacancy rates, it also has the worst record in terms of meeting waiting time targets for cancer, A&E and routine operations. | Not only does it has the highest vacancy rates, it also has the worst record in terms of meeting waiting time targets for cancer, A&E and routine operations. |
| The best indication of this is the figures for the proportion of patients seen in four hours in A&E. | The best indication of this is the figures for the proportion of patients seen in four hours in A&E. |
| England has just seen its performance sink to a record low of just over 81%. In Northern Ireland it is currently below 66%. | England has just seen its performance sink to a record low of just over 81%. In Northern Ireland it is currently below 66%. |
| Why? The suspension of a devolved government has certainly not helped - delaying everything from new policy to pay rises. | Why? The suspension of a devolved government has certainly not helped - delaying everything from new policy to pay rises. |
| But modernisation of health care in Northern Ireland was already behind schedule before that happened. | But modernisation of health care in Northern Ireland was already behind schedule before that happened. |
| Services are spread too thinly across too many sites, so there is a lot of catching up to do - and the more it is delayed the longer it will take. | Services are spread too thinly across too many sites, so there is a lot of catching up to do - and the more it is delayed the longer it will take. |
| Health workers say they want to be paid the same as their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales. | Health workers say they want to be paid the same as their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales. |
| Unions agreed a 6.5% three-year pay rise for NHS staff - excluding doctors - last year, but it was not implemented in Northern Ireland because parity with the rest of the UK was broken by the devolved government in 2014. | Unions agreed a 6.5% three-year pay rise for NHS staff - excluding doctors - last year, but it was not implemented in Northern Ireland because parity with the rest of the UK was broken by the devolved government in 2014. |
| The issue has not been looked at again because Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government since 2017. | The issue has not been looked at again because Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government since 2017. |
| Downing Street said the strike highlighted the importance of Northern Ireland's political parties working together to restore devolved government. | Downing Street said the strike highlighted the importance of Northern Ireland's political parties working together to restore devolved government. |
| The "quickest and best" way to resolve the dispute was to get the Stormont executive up and running again, said the Prime Minister's spokesman. | The "quickest and best" way to resolve the dispute was to get the Stormont executive up and running again, said the Prime Minister's spokesman. |
| He added that the Northern Ireland Department of Health had been working closely with trust chief executives, unions and staff to make sure that services were delivered safely during the strike. | He added that the Northern Ireland Department of Health had been working closely with trust chief executives, unions and staff to make sure that services were delivered safely during the strike. |
| 2,800 unfilled nursing posts | 2,800 unfilled nursing posts |
| The RCN argues the real value of nurses' pay here has fallen by 15% over the past eight years. | The RCN argues the real value of nurses' pay here has fallen by 15% over the past eight years. |
| There are just under 2,800 unfilled nursing posts within the health service in Northern Ireland. | There are just under 2,800 unfilled nursing posts within the health service in Northern Ireland. |
| The RCN estimates that a similar level of unfilled posts exists within nursing homes. | The RCN estimates that a similar level of unfilled posts exists within nursing homes. |
| The nursing vacancy rate in Northern Ireland is 13%, compared with about 11% in England and 6% in Scotland. | The nursing vacancy rate in Northern Ireland is 13%, compared with about 11% in England and 6% in Scotland. |
| This means that for every eight nurses who should be working in Northern Ireland, one is missing. | This means that for every eight nurses who should be working in Northern Ireland, one is missing. |
| Analysis: Services pushed to the limit | Analysis: Services pushed to the limit |
| By Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC News NI Health Correspondent | By Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC News NI Health Correspondent |
| These are unprecedented times. For the first time in UK history close to 20,000 health and social care works are on picket lines, including about 15,500 nurses. | These are unprecedented times. For the first time in UK history close to 20,000 health and social care works are on picket lines, including about 15,500 nurses. |
| With more than 300,000 people in Northern Ireland waiting for an appointment, today's strike is going to push all services over the limit. | With more than 300,000 people in Northern Ireland waiting for an appointment, today's strike is going to push all services over the limit. |
| As healthcare workers protest and wave flags calling for pay parity and safer staffing levels, what they are also shouting about is a desire to get devolved government back up and running. | As healthcare workers protest and wave flags calling for pay parity and safer staffing levels, what they are also shouting about is a desire to get devolved government back up and running. |
| While there is a skeleton staff today, and while many appointments have been cancelled, a shortage of staff has been an issue for many years. | While there is a skeleton staff today, and while many appointments have been cancelled, a shortage of staff has been an issue for many years. |
| Last-ditch bid | Last-ditch bid |
| On Tuesday night leaders of the five main political parties in Northern Ireland met the head of the NI Civil Service David Sterling and health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly in a bid to avert the strike action. | On Tuesday night leaders of the five main political parties in Northern Ireland met the head of the NI Civil Service David Sterling and health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly in a bid to avert the strike action. |
| Earlier they sent a joint letter to the Northern Ireland secretary which "provides cover" for him to intervene in the absence of devolved government. | Earlier they sent a joint letter to the Northern Ireland secretary which "provides cover" for him to intervene in the absence of devolved government. |
| The letter to Julian Smith signed by the five party leaders said there was "collective support for the restoration of pay parity". | The letter to Julian Smith signed by the five party leaders said there was "collective support for the restoration of pay parity". |
| Following their meeting with the civil service, the parties made a request to meet the secretary of state, despite the Northern Ireland Office saying health remained a devolved matter. | Following their meeting with the civil service, the parties made a request to meet the secretary of state, despite the Northern Ireland Office saying health remained a devolved matter. |
| Mr Smith did not meet with any of the party leaders on Tuesday night, but held meetings as planned on Wednesday to discuss the future of devolved government. | Mr Smith did not meet with any of the party leaders on Tuesday night, but held meetings as planned on Wednesday to discuss the future of devolved government. |
| Following her meeting with Mr Smith, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill said she believed he had refused to intervene in the health dispute to exert pressure on party leaders. | Following her meeting with Mr Smith, Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill said she believed he had refused to intervene in the health dispute to exert pressure on party leaders. |
| Mr Smith is also set to invite the leaders of the main parties to a health summit on Thursday. | Mr Smith is also set to invite the leaders of the main parties to a health summit on Thursday. |
| The BBC understands the summit will be aimed at ensuring that if devolved government is restored it will be able to resolve the healthcare issues. | The BBC understands the summit will be aimed at ensuring that if devolved government is restored it will be able to resolve the healthcare issues. |
| Mr Sterling rejected the argument that he and his colleagues should restore pay parity on the grounds of public interest. | Mr Sterling rejected the argument that he and his colleagues should restore pay parity on the grounds of public interest. |
| He added the decision was a choice which should be taken by ministers. | He added the decision was a choice which should be taken by ministers. |
| 'Safe services' | 'Safe services' |
| Dr Tony Stevens, chief executive of the Northern Health Trust, told BBC News NI that while the health trusts would be delivering a "much reduced" service, they would be able to deliver services safely. | Dr Tony Stevens, chief executive of the Northern Health Trust, told BBC News NI that while the health trusts would be delivering a "much reduced" service, they would be able to deliver services safely. |
| Speaking from the picket line, community nurse Karen Bowes said the strike was a "very sad day" in her 25-year nursing career. | Speaking from the picket line, community nurse Karen Bowes said the strike was a "very sad day" in her 25-year nursing career. |
| "We didn't come to this decision lightly and nurses have a heavy heart undertaking these steps," the RCN member said. | "We didn't come to this decision lightly and nurses have a heavy heart undertaking these steps," the RCN member said. |
| "Our staffing levels are not safe - patients are not safe on a normal day." | "Our staffing levels are not safe - patients are not safe on a normal day." |
| She added that patients she had spoken in advance of the strike were "very supportive" of the actions and urged politicians to step in and sort out the dispute. | She added that patients she had spoken in advance of the strike were "very supportive" of the actions and urged politicians to step in and sort out the dispute. |
| A spokesperson for Health and Social Care Board said major challenges were expected across all health and social care services on Wednesday. | A spokesperson for Health and Social Care Board said major challenges were expected across all health and social care services on Wednesday. |
| It also advised that if patients or service users have not been contacted, they should attend their appointment/service as normal. | It also advised that if patients or service users have not been contacted, they should attend their appointment/service as normal. |
| All emergency departments remain open. | All emergency departments remain open. |
| "The priority will be on the treating emergency and life threatening conditions first," said the spokesperson. | "The priority will be on the treating emergency and life threatening conditions first," said the spokesperson. |
| "Patients with less urgent conditions may have to wait for lengthy periods." | "Patients with less urgent conditions may have to wait for lengthy periods." |
| The heads of all of Northern Ireland's health trusts have stated the current crisis in the service has been "years in the making". | The heads of all of Northern Ireland's health trusts have stated the current crisis in the service has been "years in the making". |
| Are you a patient who will be affected by the strike? Are you a nurse on strike? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a patient who will be affected by the strike? Are you a nurse on strike? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |