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NHS strike dates: Why are nurses and ambulance staff taking industrial action? NHS strike dates for nurses, ambulance staff and junior doctors
(4 days later)
Some nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists are striking over pay. NHS workers including junior doctors, nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists are taking part in strikes.
What does it mean for patients? What pay do they want and what does it mean for patients?
When are NHS staff striking?When are NHS staff striking?
Junior doctors
Members of the British Medical Association in England are expected to strike for 72 hours, possibly as early as mid-March.
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
Members of three unions across England and Wales have been taking industrial action since December 2022. Members of three unions - Unite, the GMB and Unison - have backed industrial action.
Unite members are striking again on the following dates: In Northern Ireland, Unite members are striking on 23 and 24 February.
Northern Ireland: 17, 23 and 24 February In England, Unite and GMB members are taking part in strikes on 6 and 20 March. Unite members in Wales are striking on the same days.
West Midlands: 17 February, and 6 and 20 March
North East: 20 February, and 6 and 20 March
East Midlands: 20 February, and 6 and 20 March
Wales: 20 February, and 6 and 20 March
North West: 22 February, 6 and 20 March
GMB members in the South West, South East Coast, North West, South Central, North East, East Midlands and Yorkshire are striking on 20 February, and 6 and 20 March.
GMB ambulance staff in Wales called off their 6 February strike after an improved pay offer.
Unison members in London, Yorkshire, the South West, North East and North West walked out on 10 February.
NursesNurses
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced a strike from 06:00 on Wednesday 1 March until 06:00 on Friday 3 March. Previous strikes lasted 12 hours during the day shift. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced a strike from 06:00 on Wednesday 1 March until 06:00 on Friday 3 March.
Members at half the hospitals, mental health and community services in England are expected to strike. The union has about 300,000 members - about two-thirds of NHS nurses.Members at half the hospitals, mental health and community services in England are expected to strike. The union has about 300,000 members - about two-thirds of NHS nurses.
For the first time, key areas such as critical care, dialysis, paediatric accident and emergency and chemotherapy will not be exempted. The RCN says it is talking to the NHS about its commitment to provide the "life-and-limb care" required under trade-union laws. In Scotland, the RCN and GMB unions postponed strike action for talks about a pay offer.
Members in England last walked out on 6 and 7 February, following industrial action in December and January. More than 100,000 appointments and treatments have been affected. Strike dates: What do rail workers, teachers and others want?
In Scotland, The RCN and GMB unions postponed strike action for talks about a 2023 pay offer.
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Physiotherapists
Up to 4,200 members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) walked out on 26 January and 9 February.
The union represents three-quarters of the 30,000 physios and support staff in the NHS in England.
CSP members in Wales called off their 7 February strike to consider a new pay offer from the Welsh government.
CSP members in Scotland have accepted an improved pay offer.
Midwives
Members of the Royal College of Midwives in Wales also walked out on 7 February.
What do strikes mean for patients?What do strikes mean for patients?
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
The advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.The advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.
The most life-threatening situations - such as cardiac arrest - will be sent an ambulanceThe most life-threatening situations - such as cardiac arrest - will be sent an ambulance
Serious conditions not obviously life-threatening might not be immediately attendedSerious conditions not obviously life-threatening might not be immediately attended
Less urgent calls - such as women in late-stage labour - will not be prioritisedLess urgent calls - such as women in late-stage labour - will not be prioritised
Those who fall, or suffer other non-life-threatening injuries are unlikely to receive 999 care. Those who fall, or suffer other non-life-threatening injuries, are unlikely to receive 999 care.
What calls will ambulances answer on strike day?What calls will ambulances answer on strike day?
NursesNurses
Life-preserving treatment must be provided - but how this will be achieved during the 48-hour March strike remains unclear. Life-preserving treatment must be provided - but how this will be achieved during the 48-hour March strike is unclear.
The RCN says any service wanting its members to offer "life-and-limb" care must negotiate centrally with union leaders, instead of making local agreements. Critical care, dialysis, paediatric accident and emergency, and chemotherapy will not be exempt.
Services will be asked to use non-RCN nurses or other health professionals instead. Only once those avenues have been exhausted will the RCN agree to provide cover. NHS services will be asked to use non-RCN nurses, or other health professionals instead. Only once those avenues have been exhausted will the RCN agree to provide cover.
Anyone seriously ill or injured should still call 999, or 111 for non-urgent care.
Pre-booked treatments such as hernia repair, hip replacements and outpatient clinics are expected to be severely affected.Pre-booked treatments such as hernia repair, hip replacements and outpatient clinics are expected to be severely affected.
Physiotherapists What pay rises do NHS workers want?
Emergency care will be available. Junior doctors in England want a pay rise to make up for what they describe as a 26% drop in earnings once inflation is taken account since 2008.
Staff will advise hospital inpatients about any impact. For nurses, the RCN wants a pay rise of 5% above inflation - currently about 10% - although it said it may meet the government "halfway".
Outpatients should attend appointments as planned, unless they have been asked to reschedule. Ambulance workers and physiotherapists also want above-inflation pay rises, but unions have not named a figure.
Midwives The government says the demands are unaffordable. It says pay rises are decided by independent pay review bodies.
The RCM says action will not affect services for women in labour or emergency care. NHS staff in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have already received an average increase of 4.75%. The lowest paid were guaranteed a rise of at least £1,400
What do unions want? In Wales an extra 3% has since been offered on top - although some unions have rejected this
The RCN wants a 19% pay rise, although it has indicated it may meet the government "halfway".
Unions representing ambulance workers and physiotherapists also want above-inflation pay rises, but have not specified a figure.
The government says the demands are unaffordable, and that pay rises are decided by independent pay review bodies.
NHS staff in England and Wales have already received an average increase of 4.75%. The lowest paid were guaranteed a rise of at least £1,400
In Northern Ireland, nurses will receive the same increase, which will be backdated
In Scotland, a pay offer averaging 7.5% has been accepted by some unionsIn Scotland, a pay offer averaging 7.5% has been accepted by some unions
Fourteen health unions, representing more than a million NHS workers in England, said they would no longer work with the NHS Pay Review Body regarding 2023-24 pay. Fourteen health unions, representing more than a million NHS workers in England, said they would no longer work with the NHS Pay Review Body on 2023-24 pay.
MPs on the House of Commons' Health and Social Care Committee were told the Department of Health and Social Care missed the deadline for submitting evidence about the 2023-24 deal. The Treasury has submitted evidence.
Are pay review bodies completely independent?Are pay review bodies completely independent?
What's the gap between public and private sector pay?What's the gap between public and private sector pay?
Would pay demands cost an extra £28bn? How much are NHS workers paid?
How much are ambulance workers paid? Junior doctors
The basic starting salary for a junior doctor is £29,000. However, extra payments for things like unsociable hours take average earnings higher. By the second year in training they earn more than £40,000 on average.
By the end of their training, which can last 15 years for some, basic pay is more than £53,000.
Ambulance workers
The average salary for ambulance staff in England was £46,643 for April 2021 to March 2022, according to NHS Digital.The average salary for ambulance staff in England was £46,643 for April 2021 to March 2022, according to NHS Digital.
Of this, £13,854 came from extra payments for things like shift work and overtime.Of this, £13,854 came from extra payments for things like shift work and overtime.
Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - received £29,139 on average, of which £7,842 came from extra payments. Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - received £29,139 on average, including £7,842 from extra payments.
How much are nurses paid? Nurses
The starting salary for a nurse is England is just over £27,000 a year. This is the bottom of pay band five of the NHS contract, known as Agenda for Change. The starting salary for a nurse is England is just over £27,000 a year.
Staff such as healthcare assistants, porters and cleaners are on lower pay bands. A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000.
Workers are entitled to in-the-job increases within their pay band.
A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000 - the top end of pay band five.
The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.
Does the average nurse earn £34,000 a year?Does the average nurse earn £34,000 a year?
Would every 1% rise to nurses' pay cost £700m? Physios
How much are physios paid? Starting salaries for physios are just above £27,000 in England.
NHS physios are on the standard NHS contract that applies to all staff bar doctors and dentists. The most experienced can earn more than twice that in the NHS. Many combine NHS and private work.
Starting salaries for physios are just above £27,000 in England. The most experienced physios can earn more than twice that in the NHS, although many combine NHS commitments with private work.
Will other NHS staff strike?
The British Medical Association (BMA) opened a strike ballot for junior doctors on 9 January, which runs until 20 February.
The BMA says staff will walk out for 72 hours in March if the ballot is successful.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
UK ambulance servicesUK ambulance services
NHS crisisNHS crisis
NursingNursing
NHSNHS
Royal College of NursingRoyal College of Nursing
Strike actionStrike action