In a pay dispute with the government, it is believed that nurses from across the UK voted in favor of strike action. This raises concerns about the effects a widespread walkout could have on health services.
In the largest vote in the 106-year history of the union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) polled more than 300,000 of its members last month.
Officials from the union anticipate that support for strike action will prevail for the first time after the final results are released in the coming days.
So, exactly what can we anticipate in the event of a nurses’ strike?
In the first-ever nationwide action, UK nurses are scheduled to go on strike over pay. What would a nurses’ strike look like?
The RCN has previously stated that strike action will involve its members completely withdrawing from work. At this time, the exact form of strike action is unknown.
The RCN has ruled out the work-to-rule option, which involves only fulfilling a person’s role’s minimum contractual requirements.”Industrial action short of a strike,” it stated.
Patients are likely to experience delays in their appointments and operations in either scenario.
When would a nurses’ strike occur?
Strikes have not yet been officially scheduled, but possible action is anticipated to occur within a few weeks, possibly before Christmas.
