Nurses to stage 48-hour strike in March as dispute escalates

urses will strike continuously for 48 hours as industrial action ramps up amid failed pay negotiations with the government, the nursing union says.

Nursing staff, including those working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other services that were previously exempt, are significantly escalating next month’s strike.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Thursday evening that industrial action taking place at more than 120 NHS trusts in England will run continuously for 48 hours between 6am on Wednesday, March 1 until Friday, March 3 at 6am.

Previous action took place only during the day shift, for 12 hours each time.

The escalation comes as the government refuses to engage in negotiations on pay, the RCN said.

Services will be reduced to “an absolute minimum”, the union said, and hospitals will be asked to rely on members of other unions and other clinical professionals.

London NHS trusts affected include Guys and St Thomas’s and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have today asked even more nursing staff to join this dispute.

“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.

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“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.”

The union is continuing discussions with the NHS at a national level as part of its “life and limb” care.

A strike last week saw the RCN agree 5,000 exemptions at local level through committees of NHS hospitals and RCN staff, but this process will be stopped for the March dates.

Nursing staff at 73 NHS trusts in England walked out on February 6 and 7 in a campaign for better pay to recruit and retain more nursing employees, to combat the ongoing staff shortages.

Union leaders are urging Health Secretary Steve Barclay to act to prevent further strike action in England, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government has indicated it will not budge on one of the main points of contention – pay for 2022/23.

Ministers have said they want to look forward to next year’s pay award but unions have said that current pay rates need to be addressed given the spike in the cost of living as a result of soaring inflation.

However the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt were considering giving workers a lump sum by backdating next year’s pay rise. It would take effect from April, probably to the start of January 2023, according to insiders, although no final decisions have been made.

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Meanwhile, financial support paid to members who lose a day’s wages through striking is being increased.

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, RCN said.