Tens of thousands of nurses will stage a 48-hour strike at the start of next month, their union has announced, in a worsening dispute over pay and staffing.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said no services will be exempt, meaning the strike will involve for the first time nursing staff working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that previously did not take part.
The union has accused the government of refusing to engage in negotiations.
The strike will run continuously for 48 hours from 6am on 1 March.
A series of two-day strikes held by the RCN in December, January and earlier this month ran for 12 hours each time only during the day shift.
The RCN said it will reduce services to an “absolute minimum” and ask hospitals to rely on members of other unions and other clinical professions instead.
Read more:Who is taking industrial action in 2023 and when?
Image: Pat Cullen (centre) joins RCN members on the picket line (file pic)‘No area of the NHS unaffected’
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have today asked even more nursing staff to join this dispute.
Advertisement“These strikes will not just run for longer and involve more people but will leave no area of the NHS unaffected. Patients and nurses alike did not want this to happen.
“By refusing to negotiate with nurses, the prime minister is pushing even more people into the strike. He must listen to NHS leaders and not let this go ahead.
“I will do whatever I can to ensure patient safety is protected.
“At first, we asked thousands to keep working during the strikes but it is clear that is only prolonging the dispute.
“This action must not be in vain – the prime minister owes them an answer.”
Image: Striking nurses earlier this monthEscalation ‘will risk patient safety’
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Failure to provide cover during strike action for key services like cancer care is a significant escalation from the Royal College of Nursing that will risk patient safety.
“We are working closely with NHS England on contingency plans, but this action will inevitably cause further disruption for patients.
“I’ve had a series of discussions with unions, including the RCN, about what is fair and affordable for the coming year, as well as wider concerns around conditions and workload.”
Increased financial support
The union also announced the initial strike benefit rate will be increased from £50 to £80 per day, with the rate increasing to £120 from the fourth day of action.