There is no way the government can let these next lot of nurses strikes go ahead

[fissty]

They are going to have to back down.

During the last lot of strikes we put forward certain cases for derogation (ie cases we wanted excluded from strike actions and staffed) ie emergency operating lists which always run 24/7, big complex surgeries (I put one forward for a complex case involving 6 consultants which had been 3 months in the planning and it was refused). The only thing we had running was one emergency theatre which had life and limb cases only on the day (so nothing pre booked). All cancer, all paeds, all other cases cancelled.

now the RCN are coming out saying they are going to be stricter with what they allow to run this time, the government are going to have to back down. How can they not?? It was literally life or limb last time!

I support the strikes, I went out on the picket with them last time, surely the government are going to have to capitulate now?

Everyone I’ve spoken to is really supportive of the strikes. I think reflects v badly on the government that they’re not engaging at all.

I disagree with what so many have said, about if they give NHS staff the money that they NEED, then they have to give it to all the others who are striking, ie, teachers etc., as quite simply, without nurses, doctors, etc, people will literally die. No one dies because they don't have a teacher. No one dies, if trains don't run. Ambulance services should also be given the money they need, as again, if they don't work, or there aren't enough of them, people WILL die.

I'm also surprised that all those who say that politicians all have private health care, and so don't give a toss, don't realise that private health care DOES NOT cover EMERGENCY care, therefore, we need for a few politicians to suddenly be involved in car crashes, or have heart attacks, etc., then they won't be able to get to the negotiating table quick enough!

Finally, I'd love to know how many of you on here who support the strike action have actually written to their politician and voiced their disgust at the government's lack of action. If you don't even make your thoughts known, how exactly are you helping the nurses get what they are due??

My sister in law does one private shift a week on the same ward she does 3 days a week on for the NHs
The 1 private shift pays more

No one dies, if trains don't run.
They do if the railways are not maintained
and that’s why they are striking
yes, you can buy a ticket on line
the ticket machine isn’t maintaining the tracks or ensuring your safety onboard

That is just ridiculous - she should not be allowedvto euro privately in her own ward.
And how hypocriticsl to blame companies making profit from the NHS when NHS staff themselves are nurses are colluding with the profiteers. Why should the rest of us care about privatisation of the NHS of the nurses don't.
Public sympathy would definitely diminish rapidly if people knew that nurses are doing this.

It is affordable, there’s money around but it’s all about choices isn’t it?

Do you do your job just because you love it or you need to pay the bills ? You either spend 3 days at work away from your children or 1 day a week with the same money. I'm emigrating done with our shit treatment of nurses here.

The nurses are not creating the situation. They're doing what they can to get by. If they were better paid there would be less need for agency staff in the first place.

The Tories don't care about ordinary people so increased risk of death amongst patients during strikes won't affect them - it simply means less state pensions and benefits to pay out.

What someone does on their days off is up to them surely? nurses on agencies aren't "colluding" its the Govt that has created this situation by allowing shortages of staff to develop.

If they paid nurses more and made the profession more attractive, then there would be more staff, less agency and hence this practice wouldn't happen as much.

Though TBH, my DD only sees this (rarely) in ICU and with other specialist nurses.

Fine if you are happy with privatising the NHS which is what the use of agencies is doing. Nurses should choose -NHS or agency - not both.

@VanillaSox

And thats exactly what lots of nurses are choosing

Unsuprisingly they are choosing agency.

Meaning the NHS is losing more nurses

@VanillaSox would you suggest nurses work 60 hour weeks at normal rate, burning themselves out even more to be able to afford to live? Or join an agency and do one xtra shift and have some days off? If the government valued the health care system they would pay accordingly. The cost of living is spiralling and the public sector are expected to continue and afford it without a real terms pay rise in over a decade

Then why not just do the agency work? Can't be principle since they are doing the private stuff anyway.

Perhaps the solution is right there -all nurses go agency.

Or is it the pension?

No one dies with out teachers - you wouldn’t think so with the howling that goes on in here when schools close.

Agency isn’t the answer for nurses much like it isn’t for teachers. The fees are excessive and the wages are higher. The problem is, it comes out of the budget so it means less nurses.

Nurses should do entirely what suits them, they are not slaves!

No one dies with out teachers - you wouldn’t think so with the howling that goes on in here when schools close.

Depends how long you’re talking about. Long term as in pandemic yes huge downsides. A few days probably some irritation but I doubt that would be as high if dc hadn’t already missed so much during pandemic.

Nor are they saints. And fine to work for s private agency if privatisation of the NHS is your goal.

Did you read what i wrote before replying?

If they paid nurses more and made the profession more attractive, then there would be more staff, less agency and hence this practice wouldn't happen as much

Sort out training and retention and agency will go away.

No they are not saints, no one is, they are human and have financial needs same as you or i, "vocation" no longer pays for food, rent/mortgage or energy.

The pension is poor compared to what it used to be & it doesn't pay the here and now either.

No one wants to privatise the NHS but nurses have to survive. It's the government that is pushing this by not even agreeing to talk let alone increase wages and nurse numbers to create a safe health service

If they refused to sign up to agencies it would be more effective than strike action.

I don't blame the individual nurses at all for working agency shifts. Everyone does what they need to to get by.
But tbh it is a problem. It happens in so many industries now - I'll do what I need to as an individual rather than what benefits society/ the nhs/ farming whatever as a whole.
That's why farmers will be moaning about milk price again soon, why teachers - me included moan about our workload, why nurses will strike but then work for an agency.
Collective action doesn't really exist anymore in this country. As a teacher, I didn't strike as I genuinely can't afford to.
It's a weeks food shop.
I feel ashamed though.
We all need to say enough is enough!

It might be worth contacting your union to see if you are eligible for their hardship fund. I think you can do this direct with them, so nobody you work with has to know. They are keen not to have people not strike for financial reasons so they may have funding available - my union does, I didn’t know until a friend told me!