This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63561305

The article has changed 37 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 29 Version 30
NHS strike dates for nurses, junior doctors and ambulance staff NHS strikes: When are nurses and ambulance staff next walking out?
(about 5 hours later)
Nurses in England will strike for 48 hours over the first May bank holiday after rejecting a government pay offer.Nurses in England will strike for 48 hours over the first May bank holiday after rejecting a government pay offer.
It follows industrial action by other NHS workers - including junior doctors and ambulance staff - in recent months. Some ambulance staff will also walk out on 1 and 2 May.
It follows widespread industrial action by NHS workers in recent months, including junior doctors, physios and midwives.
When are NHS staff striking and what pay rises do they want?When are NHS staff striking and what pay rises do they want?
NursesNurses
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 MayMembers 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 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, depending on staff grades
The offer covers all NHS staff except doctorsThe 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 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 the absence of that, she said the RCN will reballot its members in England to determine whether to continue taking industrial action
Members of the 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 governmentIn 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 yearsThat 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 Health unions in Wales and Northern Ireland are still in negotiations with their governments
Ambulance staff
About 2,000 Unite members who are paramedics, call handlers and other staff working for ambulance trusts will walk out on 1 and 2 May in several parts of England
Ambulance workers in England have been offered the same deal as nurses and midwives - 5% from April and a one-off payment of at least £1,655
Unison members have accepted the pay offer
Strikes which had been scheduled in March by Unison, Unite and the GMB were called off while pay talks took place
Junior doctorsJunior doctors
Junior doctors in England staged strikes between 13 and 15 March and a four-day walkout ending at 07:00 BST on 15 AprilJunior 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 British Medical Association (BMA) said junior doctor roles have seen pay cut by 26% since 2008 once inflation is taken into account. It wants a 35% pay rise
The government has said a 35% pay increase is "unreasonable in the current economic context"The government has said a 35% pay increase is "unreasonable in the current economic context"
Ambulance staff
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
Results of the votes will be known by the end of April
Strikes which were scheduled in March were called off by the three unions - Unison, the GMB and Unite - while pay talks took place
What do strikes mean for patients?What do strikes mean for patients?
Nurses
For the first time, the 48-hour walkout from 20:00 BST on 30 April to 20:00 on 2 May will involve NHS nurses in emergency departments, intensive care, cancer and other wards.
These services were staffed during previous strikes.
In the past, NHS advice has been to dial 999 in an emergency and attend hospital appointments on strike days unless told otherwise.
Warning nurses' strike will present serious risks
Ambulance staff
The advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.
The most life-threatening situations - such as cardiac arrest - will be sent an ambulance
Serious conditions not obviously life-threatening might not be immediately attended
Less 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.
What calls will ambulances answer on strike days?
Junior doctorsJunior doctors
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. More than 196,000 hospital appointments had to be cancelled because of the strike in April.
That made it the most disruptive NHS strike yet this winter. The previous strike in March disrupted more than 175,000 appointments and procedures.
NHS advice is to dial 999 in an emergency and attend hospital appointments on strike days unless told otherwise. NHS advice was 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 staff
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 ambulance
Serious conditions not obviously life-threatening might not be immediately attended
Less 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.
What will ambulances respond to on strike days?
Nurses
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.
Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise?
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.
Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise?
Nurses
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.
The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.
Does the average nurse earn £34,000 a year?
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.
Nurses
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.
The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.
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
Doctors
NursingNursing
NHSNHS
Royal College of NursingRoyal College of Nursing
Strike actionStrike action