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NHS strikes: Why are nurses and ambulance staff taking industrial action? NHS strikes: Why are nurses and ambulance staff taking industrial action?
(21 days later)
Some NHS nurses and ambulance staff are set to take part in further strikes in January. Nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists have announced strikes over pay.
They are taking action over pay, which has not kept up with rising prices. The action has led to concerns about NHS funding and the care of patients.
When are NHS staff striking?When are NHS staff striking?
NursesNurses
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced strike dates on 18 and 19 January. It says they will take place at more locations in England than previous strikes. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will strike in England on 18 and 19 January. The union says more locations will be affected than during previous action.
The RCN in Scotland is also expected to announce strike dates for early 2023. Its members rejected a pay deal which would have seen the average salary rise by 7.5%. The RCN in Scotland is expected to announce strike dates after members rejected a pay deal worth 7.5% on average. Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members in Scotland also rejected the offer.
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members in Scotland also rejected the deal. The RCN has about 300,000 members - roughly two-thirds of NHS nurses.
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
Some ambulance staff in England will stage two further strikes, on 11 and 23 January. Unison said the action would affect London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West. Some ambulance staff in England and Wales will hold another strike on 23 January.
A strike by GMB members on 28 December has been cancelled. Its members will now strike on 11 January instead. Unison members will take action for 24 hours in London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and the South West.
Warning of challenging days after ambulance strike Unite members will walk out for 24 hours in the North West, North East, East Midlands and Wales, and 12 hours in the West Midlands.
Call-centre and control-room staff will take part, as well as emergency crews.
What do the strikes mean for patients?What do the strikes mean for patients?
NursesNurses
Life-preserving treatment must be provided. All nurses in intensive and emergency care are expected to work.Life-preserving treatment must be provided. All nurses in intensive and emergency care are expected to work.
Anyone who is seriously ill or injured should still call 999, or 111 for non-urgent care.Anyone who is seriously ill or injured should still call 999, or 111 for non-urgent care.
Other services, such as some cancer treatments, may be partially staffed. Other care such as cancer treatments or knee and hip replacements, is likely to be affected.
Routine care, such as knee and hip replacements, is likely to be badly affected.
Nurses could be pulled off picket lines to work if there are safety concerns.Nurses could be pulled off picket lines to work if there are safety concerns.
Ambulance staffAmbulance staff
The advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.The advice remains to call 999 in an emergency.
Category 1 calls - the most life-threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest - will be responded to by an ambulance The most life-threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest - will be responded to by an ambulance
Category 2 calls - for conditions which are serious but not immediately life-threatening, including some strokes - might not be immediately attended Conditions which are serious but not immediately life-threatening - might not be immediately attended
Category 3 calls - such as a woman in late-stage labour - will not be prioritised Less urgentcalls - such as a woman in late-stage labour - will not be prioritised
Those who have a fall, or suffer other non-life-threatening injuries are unlikely to receive 999 care. Some NHS trusts are urging people to use their own transport, or take a taxi to hospital. Those who have a 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?
Why are staff striking? What do unions want?
Nurses The RCN is calling for a 19% pay rise. Ambulance workers also want above-inflation pay rises, but have not announced a figure.
The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) is calling for a 19% pay rise. The government says the demands are unaffordable and pay rises were decided by independent pay review bodies.
The government says this is unaffordable: NHS staff in England and Wales - including nurses - have already received an average increase of 4.75%. The lowest paid were guaranteed a rise of at least £1,400
NHS staff in England and Wales - including nurses - have already been given 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 backdatedIn Northern Ireland, nurses will receive the same increase, which will be backdated
In Scotland, a pay offer averaging 7.5% for NHS staff has been accepted by some unions, but rejected by RCN and RCM members In Scotland, a pay offer averaging 7.5% has been accepted by some unions, but rejected by RCN and RCM members
Without any deal, there will be further strikes on 18 and 19 January. The RCN has about 300,000 members - roughly two-thirds of NHS nurses. Fourteen health unions, representing more than a million NHS workers in England, said they will no longer work with the NHS Pay Review Body on discussions about the 2023-24 pay deal.
Does the average nurse earn £34,000 a year?
Would every 1% rise to nurses' pay cost £700m?
Ambulance staff
They also want above-inflation pay rises, but have not announced a figure.
Unions argue that any offer needs to be high enough to prevent a recruitment crisis. In Scotland, two unions have accepted an improved pay offer of 7.5%.
The UK government says pay rises for ambulance workers and nurses were decided by independent pay review bodies.
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?Would pay demands cost an extra £28bn?
How much are ambulance workers paid?
The average earnings for ambulance staff in England were £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.
Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - had average pay of £29,139, of which £7,842 came from extra payments.
How much are nurses paid?How much are nurses paid?
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. This is the bottom of pay band five of the NHS contract, known as Agenda for Change.
Staff such as healthcare assistants, porters and cleaners are on lower pay bands.Staff such as healthcare assistants, porters and cleaners are on lower pay bands.
Under the contract, staff are entitled to in-the-job increases within their pay band. 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.A nurse with four years' experience could expect to earn close to £33,000 - the top end of pay band five.
Specialist nurses can make up to £47,000.
The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.The most senior nurse consultants can earn up to nearly £55,000.
How much are ambulance workers paid? Does the average nurse earn £34,000 a year?
The average earnings for ambulance staff in England were £46,643, figures from NHS Digital for April 2021 to March 2022 show. Would every 1% rise to nurses' pay cost £700m?
Of this, £13,854 came from extra payments for things like shift work and overtime. Are other NHS staff striking?
Workers classed as support staff - such as ambulance technicians and non-emergency ambulance drivers - had average pay of £29,139, of which £7,842 came from extra payments. Physiotherapists
Up to 4.200 NHS physiotherapy staff across England will strike on 26 January and 9 February.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said further dates will be announced if there is no improved pay offer.
Junior doctors
The British Medical Association (BMA) opened a strike ballot for junior doctors on 9 January, which will run until 20 February.
The BMA says staff will walk out for 72 hours in March if the ballot is successful.