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NHS strike dates for nurses, ambulance staff and junior doctors NHS strike dates for nurses, junior doctors and ambulance staff
(about 1 month later)
More than 36,000 junior doctors are set to strike on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in England. Nurses in England will strike for 48 hours over the first May bank holiday after rejecting a government pay offer.
Other NHS workers - including nurses and ambulance staff - have already taken strike action over the past few months. It follows industrial action by other NHS workers - including junior doctors and ambulance staff - in recent months.
When are NHS staff striking? When are NHS staff striking and what pay rises do they want?
Nurses
Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union in England rejected the government's pay offer and will go on strike between 30 April and 2 May
The government offered a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year's salary
The offer covers all NHS staff except doctors
RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen said the union is looking for a "significantly improved" offer "as soon as possible" in order to prevent strike action
Members of Unison union, which includes some nurses and ambulance crews, have accepted the pay offer
In Scotland, members of RCN and the Royal College of Midwives voted to accept a pay offer of 6.5% for this year from the Scottish government
That is on top of a 7.5% pay rise imposed for 2022-23 - meaning staff will see pay increase by 13-14% over two years
Health unions in Wales and Northern Ireland are still in negotiations with their governments over pay
Junior doctorsJunior doctors
Members of the British Medical Association in England are to strike on 13, 14 and 15 March. Junior doctors in England staged strikes between 13 and 15 March and a four-day walkout ending at 07:00 BST on 15 April
The British Medical Association (BMA) said junior doctor roles have seen pay cut by 26% since 2008 once inflation is taken into account. They want a 35% pay rise
The government has said a 35% pay increase is "unreasonable in the current economic context"
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
Further ambulance-staff strikes in England and Wales, scheduled in March, were called off by the three unions - Unison, the GMB and Unite - while pay talks are on. Ambulance workers in England are also voting on the same offer that nurses and midwives have received - 5% from April and a one-off payment of at least £1,655
In Northern Ireland, Unite's ambulance staff are still planning to strike on 16 March. Results of the votes will be known by the end of April
Nurses Strikes which were scheduled in March were called off by the three unions - Unison, the GMB and Unite - while pay talks took place
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called off a strike after the government agreed to enter pay talks.
In Scotland, the RCN and GMB unions postponed strike action for talks about a pay offer.
What do strikes mean for patients?What do strikes mean for patients?
Junior doctorsJunior doctors
Consultants will be brought in to provide some cover but the NHS is warning of "major disruption and thousands of patients may face postponements to their treatment". For the previous strike, consultants were brought in to provide some cover but more than 175,000 patient appointments and procedures had to be cancelled.
NHS advice is to dial 999 in an emergency and attend hospital appointments unless told otherwise. That made it the most disruptive NHS strike yet this winter.
NHS advice is to dial 999 in an emergency and attend hospital appointments on strike days unless told otherwise.
Emergency care will remain availableEmergency care will remain available
Newborns and people needing critical or trauma care will be prioritisedNewborns and people needing critical or trauma care will be prioritised
Anyone needing urgent care should dial 111Anyone needing urgent care should dial 111
GP services will not be directly affected, so patients should attend GP appointmentsGP services will not be directly affected, so patients should attend GP appointments
Some hospital dentists will also be on strikeSome hospital dentists will also be on strike
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
If ambulance staff take part in further strikes, the advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.If ambulance staff take part in further strikes, 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 will ambulances respond to on strike days?What will ambulances respond to on strike days?
NursesNurses
If nurses take part in further strikes, life-preserving treatment must be provided. For the first time, the RCN says this new strike will mean some critical care services, such as intensive care, will not be staffed on strike days - something which did not happen in previous strikes.
Pre-booked treatments such as hernia repair, hip replacements and outpatient clinics were expected to be severely affected. Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise?
What pay rises do NHS workers want?
Junior doctors in England want a pay rise of 35%, to make up up for what they describe as a 26% drop in earnings once inflation is taken account since 2008.
For nurses, the RCN wants a pay rise of 5% above inflation - although it said it may meet the government "halfway".
Ambulance workers and physiotherapists also want above-inflation pay rises, but unions have not named a figure.
The government says the demands are unaffordable. It says pay rises are decided by independent pay review bodies.
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
In Wales an extra 3% has since been offered on top - although some unions have rejected this
In 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 on 2023-24 pay.
Are pay review bodies completely independent?
What's the gap between public and private sector pay?
How much are NHS workers paid?How much are NHS workers paid?
Junior doctorsJunior doctors
The starting salary for a junior doctor in England is £29,000. After finishing their second year of training they earn more than £40,000 on average.The starting salary for a junior doctor in England is £29,000. After finishing their second year of training they earn more than £40,000 on average.
Doctors at this level earned about £14,000 in extra payments - for things like unsociable hours - in the year to September 2022, according to NHS Digital.Doctors at this level earned about £14,000 in extra payments - for things like unsociable hours - in the year to September 2022, according to NHS Digital.
By the end of their training, which can last 15 years for some, basic pay is more than £53,000.By the end of their training, which can last 15 years for some, basic pay is more than £53,000.
Ambulance workersAmbulance workers
Ambulance workers include paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers.Ambulance workers include paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers.
The average salary for ambulance staff is £33,779. In the year to September 2022 they earned nearly £13,000 in extra payments for things like shift work and overtime.The average salary for ambulance staff is £33,779. In the year to September 2022 they earned nearly £13,000 in extra payments for things like shift work and overtime.
Paramedics in England typically enter the pay scale at band 5, earning about £27,000. After two years they can expect to earn about £34,000.Paramedics in England typically enter the pay scale at band 5, earning about £27,000. After two years they can expect to earn about £34,000.
Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - receive £21,947 on average. In the year to September 2022, they earned extra payments totalling £7,600.Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - receive £21,947 on average. In the year to September 2022, they earned extra payments totalling £7,600.
NursesNurses
The starting salary for a nurse is England is just over £27,000 a year.The starting salary for a nurse is England is just over £27,000 a year.
A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000. On average nurses took home £4,200 in extra payments in the year to September 2022.A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000. On average nurses took home £4,200 in extra payments in the year to September 2022.
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?
PhysiosPhysios
Starting salaries for physios are just above £27,000 in England.Starting salaries for physios are just above £27,000 in England.
The most experienced can earn more than twice that in the NHS. Many combine NHS and private work.The most experienced can earn more than twice that in the NHS. Many combine NHS and private work.
In the year to September 2022, physios received nearly £3,000 in extra payments.In the year to September 2022, physios received nearly £3,000 in extra payments.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
UK ambulance servicesUK ambulance services
NHS crisisNHS crisis
NursingNursing
NHSNHS
Royal College of NursingRoyal College of Nursing
Strike actionStrike action