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Nurses in Scotland vote for strike action in pay dispute Nurses in Scotland vote for strike action in pay dispute
(33 minutes later)
Members of Scotland's largest nursing union have voted for strike action. Scotland's largest nursing union has voted to go on strike for the first time ever in a dispute over pay.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced the result of a ballot of more than 30,000 health and social care workers. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have rejected the Scottish government's revised pay offer.
The most recent Scottish government pay offer was for a flat rate of £2,205 per person, backdated to April. The union said every service in Scotland had supported industrial action, and called on ministers to return to the negotiating table.
Ministers have warned there is no more money to fund public sector pay rises and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said a strike would be "catastrophic". The government said there was no more money for public sector pay rises and that a strike would be "catastrophic".
But the RCN previously described the deal as a real-terms pay cut and accused the government of not listening to staff concerns. Action is expected to start by the end of the year after RCN members across the UK voted to strike.
It had asked for at least 5% above inflation which rose to 10.1% in September. What will nurses' strike mean for patients?
More NHS workers back strike action over pay dispute Nurses across UK back strikes in pay dispute
No more money to fund public sector pay risesNo more money to fund public sector pay rises
Why are nurses balloting for strike action? The most recent Scottish government pay offer was for a flat rate of £2,205 per person, backdated to April.
The union has described the deal as a real-terms pay cut and accused the government of not listening to staff concerns. It asked for at least 5% above inflation, which rose to 10.1% in September.
The RCN's Scotland director, Colin Poolman, said turnout had reached 70% in some of the organisations which had been balloted, and that more than 90% of members had voting in favour of strike action in most areas.
He said "life-preserving services" would still be in place despite the industrial action.
Physician associate Peju Adeyemo and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf chats at Bangholm Medical Centre in Edinburgh
Mr Poolman said he hoped the Scottish government would return to negotiations with an improved offer.
"If we don't do something now, the nursing crisis is only going to get worse and have a direct impact on patient care," he said.
"This is not just about nursing pay, this is about supporting patients and ensuring that we have a sustainable workforce going forward."
Last month, members staged a protest outside the Scottish Parliament after the union confirmed it was balloting all 300,000 UK members for the first time in its 106-year history.Last month, members staged a protest outside the Scottish Parliament after the union confirmed it was balloting all 300,000 UK members for the first time in its 106-year history.
The RCN joins about 2,500 workers in the Unite union who voted for industrial action last week. Last week about 2,500 workers in the Unite union voted for industrial action.
Members of the GMB union and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have also backed strike action.Members of the GMB union and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have also backed strike action.
But Unison, Scotland's largest health union, has suspended its strike ballot of NHS staff and is consulting its members on a revised pay offer until 14 November.But Unison, Scotland's largest health union, has suspended its strike ballot of NHS staff and is consulting its members on a revised pay offer until 14 November.
Physician associate Peju Adeyemo and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf chats at Bangholm Medical Centre in Edinburgh 'We're close to the tipping point'
The looming industrial action comes after Scottish hospitals recorded their worst ever accident and emergency waiting times.
New figures published on Tuesday show that more than 9,600 patients waited more than four hours in the emergency department in the final week of October.
Just 63.1% of patients were treated and either admitted, transferred or discharged within the target time, according to Public Health Scotland.
Opposition parties warned the situation would only get worse as winter pressures mounted.
Last month, the chairman of the doctors' union BMA Scotland recently warned Scotland's NHS was in "a perilous situation" amid a staffing and funding crisis.
'We're pretty close to the tipping point'
Dr John Harden, the Scottish government's deputy national clinical director, is a consultant in emergency medicine at Wishaw General Hospital.Dr John Harden, the Scottish government's deputy national clinical director, is a consultant in emergency medicine at Wishaw General Hospital.
He said NHS Lanarkshire had shifted to "code black", where the focus on patient safety and prioritising treating the sickest patients.He said NHS Lanarkshire had shifted to "code black", where the focus on patient safety and prioritising treating the sickest patients.
He said staff were struggling to find space for new patients arriving in the emergency department.He said staff were struggling to find space for new patients arriving in the emergency department.
He said the hospital was "pretty close" to the tipping point, and that some colleagues had reached their limit with the working conditions in the hospital.He said the hospital was "pretty close" to the tipping point, and that some colleagues had reached their limit with the working conditions in the hospital.
"I think unfortunately some people might find it too much. I know some colleagues who have and I'm not surprised," he said."I think unfortunately some people might find it too much. I know some colleagues who have and I'm not surprised," he said.
"The reason they do end up in that situation is because they care and they find it very difficult to manage the balance of their caring and compassion being stretched to the limit.""The reason they do end up in that situation is because they care and they find it very difficult to manage the balance of their caring and compassion being stretched to the limit."
The latest pay offer means an average salary increase of 7%, with the lowest paid gaining more than 11% and qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%. The latest pay offer in Scotland would mean an average salary increase of 7%, with the lowest paid gaining more than 11% and qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf described the offer as "the largest of its kind since devolution".Health Secretary Humza Yousaf described the offer as "the largest of its kind since devolution".
On Wednesday, he told BBC Scotland that the health service was already under significant pressures.On Wednesday, he told BBC Scotland that the health service was already under significant pressures.
"We're just getting into the winter where we expect those pressures to increase, so of course a strike would be catastrophic."We're just getting into the winter where we expect those pressures to increase, so of course a strike would be catastrophic.
"I don't think anyone can say otherwise," he said."I don't think anyone can say otherwise," he said.
Mr Yousaf said he hoped to continue dialogue with the unions to avert the strike.Mr Yousaf said he hoped to continue dialogue with the unions to avert the strike.
"Nobody wants a strike to take place in a health service that is already extremely stretched and in the midst of winter," he added."Nobody wants a strike to take place in a health service that is already extremely stretched and in the midst of winter," he added.
He added that the UK government should "put its hand in its pocket" to provide more funding for such pay deals, saying: "I don't have any more money."He added that the UK government should "put its hand in its pocket" to provide more funding for such pay deals, saying: "I don't have any more money."
Unions have called for an enhanced deal that reflects the pressures facing households due to the cost of living crisis, which has been caused by rising energy bills and soaring food prices.Unions have called for an enhanced deal that reflects the pressures facing households due to the cost of living crisis, which has been caused by rising energy bills and soaring food prices.
In England and Wales, NHS staff, including nurses, have been given an average of 4.75% more, with extra for the lowest paid. In England and Wales, NHS staff, including nurses, have been offered an average of 4.75% more, with extra for the lowest paid.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, nurses are yet to receive a pay award.Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, nurses are yet to receive a pay award.
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