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Original poster

Solidarity with striking nurses

32 replies

noblegiraffe · 15/12/2022 08:45

A thread to express solidarity with any nurses taking strike action today.

Listening to your concerns it sounds like you are working in intolerable conditions, trying to cover for inadequate staffing and facing increasing abuse from the public for being unable to provide the service that they need.

Given the huge number of nursing vacancies, if the government continues to treat the nursing profession with contempt when it comes to pay negotiations, I'd like to know what their plan is to rectify the situation. If nurses have been driven to take strike action, then something needs to change.

A healthy workforce is vital to the economy and refusing to invest in nurses and allowing the NHS to fall apart does not seem like a good plan to secure the economic future of the country.

The government seems more concerned with stopping people from being allowed to strike than it does in actually addressing the root causes of the strike action. We need them to invest in the public sector for the benefit of all, rather than spending their remaining time in government protecting their own interests.

OP posts:
Glassofwhatever · 15/12/2022 08:53

Complete solidarity from me xx

nickyschof · 15/12/2022 08:58

Solidarity from me as well.

Daffodilis · 15/12/2022 08:59

And me

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MoMuntervary · 15/12/2022 09:00

Solidarity from me too. We should all support this - our health system has been broken by the government either by design or neglect. They need to fix it, starting by paying HCP properly so that they stay in their roles and training more to fill the massive staff shortages across the NHS.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/12/2022 09:00

Solidarity with nurses and all other strikers.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 15/12/2022 10:47

Can't believe this only has five (now six) comments :(

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/12/2022 13:53

Yes, I wondered if there was another thread about it where people were commenting but I can’t see one.

So many threads recently about shocking events in the NHS, inability to get appointments, people left waiting hours for ambulances or told to make their own way to A&E, people unable to get prescriptions or a call back from 111, no beds in hospitals.

Are people unable to join the dots between the collapse of the NHS and the current nurses’ strike?

OP posts:
Wowzel · 15/12/2022 14:01

I don't think many people care tbh, which is really demoralising.

Nothing we do is ever good enough, even when staffing or system wide issues mean that we can't do any better

Darnley · 15/12/2022 14:06

I get that they deserve an increase. Everybody does. But, I also think the NHS needs root and branch reform and we need to stop treating it like a sacred cow.
last year, the NHS wasted over 2.5 million on rainbow lanyards, inclusion training, and inclusion managers.
Bedford health trust are currently advertising for a “ lived experience “ director, at 110,00 per annum. What on earth has that got to do with providing health care ?
how many nurses would that pay for ?
these issues should be a big part of the discussion I think.

TotallyOP · 15/12/2022 20:17

I care, and I think other people do too. We could hear lots of cars beeping their horns as they drove past the picket line at my work all day today. I took the nurses some biscuits and had a quick chat - they were on really good form, but it was freezing!

Chatterboxy · 15/12/2022 20:35

Complete solidarity!
the bigger issues need addressing though, they won’t pay nurses the wages they rightly deserve, many trusts are so short staffed, but…… they are paying ££££££ to agency staff to cover the shortages! Bloody ridiculous!
I’m terrified if I’ll need hospital treatment anytime soon, it’s currently downright dangerous in my opinion!

havetochangethis · 15/12/2022 20:36

Complete solidarity from me.

Abcdefu · 15/12/2022 20:37

Solidarity here too

Onekidnoclue · 15/12/2022 20:40

I think nurses are absolutely wonderful and deserved to be paid far more than they’re asking for and treated better too. I agree the nhs needs an overhaul but that’s a different issue. I’d happily pay more in taxes to improve conditions and wages for nurses while the utter shit show that existS at the top of all massive organisations gets overhauled.

WhamBamThanksSam · 15/12/2022 20:42

I’m a nurse but not striking today (our trust wasn’t on the list). I am only a year qualified so not quite feeling that burnt out feeling quite yet but definitely getting there. For me personally, I see so many of my friends working in truly intolerable conditions, a friend on a elderly care ward had 11 patients yesterday, 8 had dementia and should have 1-2-1 due to fall risks. There was 1 healthcare between 20 patients, so many patients didn’t get washed, med on time, obs taken etc. The ones that needed help to eat were given help but with so many it was sometimes hours after dinner time. She had one patient fall but she couldn’t physically be in the bay with them whilst drawing up IV’s. That patient is thankfully fine but of course the family weren’t happy and blamed my friend. She voted to strike and truly for her (and me, and everyone else I know!) it is not about the money. Of course more money is nice but it’s about recruitment, retention and truly horrific conditions

lipstickwoman · 15/12/2022 20:45

Solidarity from me too.

I also agree it needs reform.. way too much money wasted.

(Retired senior nhs nurse)

user1471453601 · 15/12/2022 20:49

@Wowzel and how many billions were, to quote our then PM "spaffed up the wall"on track and trace, faulty PPE, or the money lost by our current P M (then chancellor) because he failed to insure against fraudulent claims under furlough?

The nurses didn't cause this financial crisis, anymore than rmt workers, posties, assorted civil servants at al. The last PM is partly to blame for her utterly insane budget.

And given that increased pay in the public sector could not possibly have fuelled inflation to its current rate, why should these people be the ones paying the price for it?

grafittiartist · 15/12/2022 20:54

Support from me!

Softpebbles · 15/12/2022 21:04

Support from my and my family too!

Thank you for all you do.

CactusFlowers · 15/12/2022 21:07

Solidarity from me as well.

Notplayingball · 15/12/2022 21:16

Solidarity. Without a doubt.

QueueEtwo · 15/12/2022 21:21

Absolute solidarity from me!

halfthesun · 15/12/2022 21:24

Of course! Complete support ... Daffodil

Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 15/12/2022 21:33

Solidarity here from an NHS manager. My organisation were not on strike today, and when they do strike it will be a professional headache for me. However, I see we can't continue with the conditions, never mind the pay issues. Patient care is suffering, staff are demoralised and burnt out. For the first time in 15 years I am also thinking about leaving the sector.

We need change.

Kentlassie · 15/12/2022 21:38

Support from me. Dd2 is named after a nurse who provided wonderful care to us.

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