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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if you would support a strike by midwifery/nursing staff?

366 replies

HolidayArmadillo · 15/03/2014 11:20

Just that really, would you support a strike by frontline NHS midwifery/nursing staff? Following the 1% 'pay rise' news (which is actually a pay cut in real terms and only for those who are experienced staff at the top of their band) more and more of my colleagues have been saying that if it came to it they would strike, many have been reluctant up until this point as no one wants to disrupt women/patient care but the workforce is becoming burnt out, disillusioned and unsafe.

Just wondering what the mumsnet collective has to say?

OP posts:
bigwellylittlewelly · 15/03/2014 22:48

I stongly believe a mw shortage contributed to my daughter suffering brain injury at birth (hypoxia) ans so I would support a strike.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 22:48

I'm so sorry about that bigwelly. I'd like to ask how she is now but wouldn't like to upset you.

Piscivorus · 15/03/2014 22:50

I am not a nurse but I am NHS so understand the frustration. I am not in favour of strikes however as, like many others, I feel the patient must come first and I also feel strikes would play into the hands of this government who would love the chance to privatise it.

I am in primary care but regularly come across terrible tales from patients regarding our local hospital. Some are due to bad nursing, etc but more and more are due to problems caused by low staffing, locums rather than regular staff, etc. I don't think any of us could leave patients exposed to worse problems than normal with a clear conscience

Roseandmabelshouse · 15/03/2014 22:51

I won't strike but I would leave if times got much worse. If I leave the profession the government will have flushed a significant amount of money down the drain.

SaggyAndLucy · 15/03/2014 22:52

I work 12 hour days. On a market stall. Some days by the time I finish im barely coherent. The difference between me and a nurse is that they literally have people's lives in their hands...
how is having to work beyond their allotted shifts and having to work overtime to make ends meet acceptable?

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 22:55

I worked on a market stall once Saggy when I was 17 to help my friend who sold jewellery, twas awful in the rain and cold!

lolatu · 15/03/2014 23:02

But I work in a team of 5 nurses in a GP practice; I think you'd find if we all left the patients would be a bit cheesed off that there were no nurses to do their smears, baby jabs, wound care, asthma and diabetic reviews, contraception, travel consultations, etc etc...

That is a truly rubbish argument

scottishmummy · 15/03/2014 23:04

Yes it is
Staff come,staff go.in above scenario they'd hire agency nurse

Original poster
HolidayArmadillo · 15/03/2014 23:08

How so lolatu ? The reality is if all nhs workers who were mightily fucked off with the latest turn of events did actually leave to find other employment as we're told to do so frequently, the NHS would collapse in on itself, I think cheesed off is quite mild!

OP posts:
Original poster
HolidayArmadillo · 15/03/2014 23:10

But if all 5 left their posts and agency had to step in then it'd cost a lot more money and patients would suffer.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 15/03/2014 23:13

Cost more,short term yes
Patients suffer,not necessarily
But it is dreadful to think skilled people are demoralised and want to leave.good staff need retained

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:13

Ah nurses are expendable. We can be easily replaced Hmm

Tell that to the women you've taken years to build a relationship up with

lolatu · 15/03/2014 23:13

Any industry would collapse if all the workers left at once. The NHS is not special in that regard. Clearly the original question is talking on an individual level.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:14

The original question was 'if people aren't happy, leave'

The majority of nurses aren't happy.

lolatu · 15/03/2014 23:18

They would not all find alternative employment at the same time, if the stream leaving over time became too much the government would have no choice but to make the job more attractive.

Saying you can't leave your job because other people might leave too makes no sense.

BillyBanter · 15/03/2014 23:20

Yes I would support a strike.

scottishmummy · 15/03/2014 23:24

Even if the staff leave that post,they'll still need a post.pragmatically,to exist

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:27

Yes I think I'd get a post in cleaning. I'd earn more

JohnCusacksWife · 15/03/2014 23:27

No, I wouldn't support a strike. Midwives hold the lives of mothers and babies in their hands. If they are willing to risk those lives for the sake of an extra percent then they shouldn't be in the job. Some jobs are above striking.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:30

Maybe you should flip that and think if those jobs are so important to society then they deserve a fair wage.

scottishmummy · 15/03/2014 23:31

And cusack,given you recognise the skill set is so essential it should be better paid

lolatu · 15/03/2014 23:34

Fair wage is subjective, its about £27k for experienced standard midwife isn't it? Plus v generous pension scheme.

Lots of things are important, like cleaning toilets, but we can't all be paid £50k a year for it.

Juliaceasar · 15/03/2014 23:35

But its not just about the money, its a reflection of how the government feels about the nursing profession. I am sick and tired of not reaching my home until 8-9pm at night (I am supposed to finish at 5), and by the way that is unpaid. When I am on call, it is not paid at my hourly rate, I am nearly always called out and I also have to appear at work the next day! I love my job but I am fed up of feeling used.

JohnCusacksWife · 15/03/2014 23:38

There are loads of professions which deserve decent pay rises. But we haven't got the money for it. Most NHS staff will get a >1% pay rise - not brilliant, I agree, but more than most will get.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:42

Please read the thread john and you'll see people's replies to that very statement.

lotalu I don't think you spend at least 5 years in further and higher education to clean toilets.