APRIL 30, 2023
By Harry Mottram: The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have confirmed nurses will take industrial action and withdraw their labour on Sunday 30 April at 8pm to midnight on Monday 1 May following a majority of the members voting to strike.
The RCN said: “Strike action will be managed responsibly, and structures will be in place to ensure incidents or changing circumstances can be responded to as needed.”
The union said the action was ‘to rectify the years of real-terms pay cuts that are pushing people out of the nursing profession and putting patient safety at risk.’
The RUH said: “We are committed to maintaining patient safety and are working to minimise disruption during this time. Emergency and lifesaving care will continue. If you have an appointment booked please attend unless you hear from us. Please don’t call to check if your appointment is going ahead. We will be in touch with patients if we need to rearrange an appointment. All of our urgent emergency services are continuing. Our emergency department remains open 24 hours a day, if you have a life-threatening emergency.”
For details of visiting and other matters such as appointments visit https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/media/news_homepage/2023_04_RCN_Industrial_Action_Update.asp
The RCN have about two thirds of nurses in England as members so there are nurses still working – but fewer in number.
The BBC’s Nick Triggle reported: ” The strike was called earlier this month after RCN members rejected a government offer for England of a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year’s salary, depending on staff grade.
“RCN leadership had recommended members accept the offer but it was rejected by 54% to 46%.
“Nurses have already walked out twice this year – on 6 and 7 February and on 18 and 19 January – but on those dates there were exemptions, so nursing cover was maintained in critical areas such as intensive care, chemotherapy and dialysis.
“The RCN has said it would ballot members for further strike action once this walkout is over.
“The industrial action comes ahead of a crucial meeting between unions, ministers and NHS bosses on Tuesday.”
In the south west these hospitals will be affected:
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB
NHS Devon ICB (One Devon)
NHS Dorset ICB (One Dorset)
NHS Gloucestershire ICB (One Gloucestershire)
North Bristol NHS Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
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