To Think That Nurses Shouldn't HAVE To Go On Strike

[TheShellBeach]

They should have had a decent pay rise without having to resort to strike action.
Successive governments have relied on nurses' goodwill and reluctance to strike.

They worked so hard throughout the pandemic. They worked hard before it.

They're still working hard. It's a kick in the teeth to make them choose between putting patient safety at risk and getting a living wage.

Why would anybody go into nursing these days? The disrespect from this government is unreal

I agree, i fully support them. Its sad they are even having to do this. The government has relied on their good will while shittong on them for far too long.

But we all clapped them and that pays the bills and makes up for years of NHS cost cutting, right?

I’m a community night nurse. We have a patch which has a population of approx 600,000 people.
Tonight there are 3 nurses covering the area.
It is appalling.

It just seems that we were very happy to stand and clap for them all when we were all stuck inside during the pandemic.........and now there they are, unable to pay their bills.

It's not even worth voting Labour as they won't commit to solving anything. They've all been sitting on the fence for so long it's a wonder their splinters haven't got infected and required admission.

Don’t know how anyone could NOT agree with this tbh.

Obviously many other people are unable to pay their bills, too.

I do think that nurses and midwives' pay nowhere near matches the amount of skills and studying they have to do.

And yet there isn't a 100% YANBU in the poll.

Nurses are amongst the most valuable people we have. They've been criminally treated for years, and I really hope this strike action forces the government to wake up and take notice, and treat these people with the respect they deserve.

No one should HAVE to go on strike!
I agree with striker's whatever their job is.
No one goes on strike for shits and giggles.

I think the issue is that patient safety is already being put at risk due to a mass exodus from the profession, and staff shortages.

I agree with striker's whatever their job is.
No one goes on strike for shits and giggles.

Exactly. So do I.

I really don’t blame them. Simply because of the abuse they get they should be paid more, never mind the qualifications, yearly fees and ongoing training they endure during their careers.

Ots disgraceful that skilled professionals have to rely on food banks to live.

Of bank staff can be paid a decent wage so should contracted staff.

Would love to hear the views from those who think yabu.

Agree, and to any nurses, midwives, HCAs etc reading this. I support you!!

Would love to hear the views from those who think yabu.

So would I.

I don't want to strike. But I can't take it anymore. I work in A&E and am exhausted. I've never been so mentally drained in the 10 years I've worked for the NHS as I am now.

The minimum the government can do is safe staffing levels and fair recognition of pay for the responsibility we hold.
I won't hold my breath..

💯% behind the Nurses! Shame on this Government!

I do not blame you at all.
I hope the government takes heed.

People like you really are the unsung and invisible heroes of the NHS.

My dad's nursing team made it possible for him to die in dignity at home instead of in an anonymous ward miles away.

The pressure they were under was unfair and is unsustainable but that didn't stop them from going above and beyond for dad.

Every day I'm grateful for people like you. Thank you for being there for your patients. I know it doesn't pay the bills but you are priceless.

I wisely banked my next door neighbours banging on a saucepan enthusiastically for 5 minutes for six weeks in April 2020 and now I’m using that to heat my house for an extra 30 minutes every morning.

I mean patient care is absolutely fucked and we have massive staffing gaps because why would anyone in their right mind want to train to work in the NHS, or stay beyond the absolute minimum retirement age, but that saucepan banging two years ago keeps me and my colleagues going.

I was a community nurse for 13 years but left because they refused to try and accommodate shifts round my childcare. So short sighted.
I now work in general practice which is almost just as hideous atm. Retiring early in four years and can't wait.

I've been working for the NHS for 20 years and this is the first time I've wanted to strike. I'm a specialist nurse and can't afford to pay my bills 🤷‍♀️

Not just this but in our experience (MND and cancer) the nurses are rhe ones that care.

They're the ones advocating for vulnerable patients when the doctors just glide by, they're the ones staying hours after their shift ends because a patient is dying and continuity of care at that point is more important to them then their own lives.

Honestly don't have much sympathy for doctors after our two hellish years, but I'd stick my neck on the line for nurses after seeing what they do and endure up close in awful circumstances.

They deserves so much more, not just in terms of pay but the entirety of their support and employment structure.

None of us want to we're here because we care deeply and believed in the NHS. I was a nurse for 20 years and I switched to podiatry because of a worsening disability.
But the fact is patients lives are being put at risk, staff are burning out at a massive rate and people don't want to come into NHS professions any more. They aren't attractive.
Our only student left before he qualified.

Yup. Wonder if the pan bangers and clappers will be loudly showing their support on the strike days.Or even out showing their support to the nhs workers.