UK Nurses, Ambulance Workers Stage Largest Strike in NHS History

Workers on the picket line during a strike by nurses and ambulance staff outside St. Thomas's Hospital in London, on Feb. 6, 2023. (James Manning/PA Media)

Tens of thousands of nurses and ambulance workers have staged the biggest strike in the history of the UK National Health Service (NHS).

The industrial action—the first time ambulance workers and nurses have walked out on the same day—was organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) alongside the GMB and Unite unions.

The unions have urged the government to make improved pay offers for the 2022–23 financial year, but the UK government, which is in charge of the NHS in England, has refused to reopen pay negotiations.

Nurses in England are striking again on Feb. 7, ambulance workers again on Feb. 10, and physiotherapists on Feb. 9.

NHS leaders said it will be the “most disruptive week of strikes to date,” but urged people to seek urgent and emergency care if they need it and attend appointments as planned unless they have been contacted in advance.

Unions in Wales largely suspended similar action after the Welsh government came forward with an improved pay offer on Feb. 3.

‘Constant Cycle’

RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen told the PA news agency, “We are in a situation today where this government has chosen to punish the nurses of England instead of getting round a table and talking to me about pay in the same way as they’ve done in Wales and Scotland.”

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite union, said, “This government has not at any time in this dispute come to the table about the substantive issue on pay, and that is the real issue.”

She said that unless the government comes up with an improved pay offer, the NHS staff “are in this constant cycle of having strike action, which obviously nobody wants.”

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, urged the government to negotiate with unions on 2022–23 pay rates.

“I hope it ends by the government coming around the table to negotiate a settlement for this year’s pay for NHS staff,” she told Sky News.

“I think that we need to recognise that NHS staff have faced soaring costs, the cost of living has gone up, inflation has gone up, and the settlement from this year’s pay review body was made at a time when inflation wasn’t at the levels it’s at the moment.

“So I think it’s really important that we focus on getting a deal for this year, as well as then thinking about what next year’s pay deal looks like.”

‘A Path Forward’

Commenting on the strike action, Downing Street said it wanted to look forward and not backward when it came to pay negotiations.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We want to keep discussing how we can find a path forward with the unions.

“Our long-standing position is that above-inflation pay rises are not acceptable, given the impact it would have on taxpayers and the risk of increasing inflationary pressures.

“But we do want to find a path forward. We think the right way to do that is to talk about this year’s (2023/24) pay offer prior to evidence being submitted to the pay review body.”

Asked whether unions should “give up hope” of negotiating on 2022–23 pay rates, the Number 10 official said: “I think we would say we want to keep talking about ways forward. We think it is right to focus on this year’s pay and not look backward.”

Speaking during a visit to Kingston Hospital, southwest London, Health Secretary Steve Barclay defended the government’s position that awarding a pay rise could make inflation worse.

“Just a few days ago, the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said that wages are a factor in the bank’s approach in terms of inflation and interest rates,” he said.

“But it’s right that we have an independent process. We accepted in full the recommendations made last year, we’re now submitting evidence to the pay review body for April and onwards.

“We want to work constructively with the trade unions in terms of this evidence, and that’s why we’ve been discussing these issues with them.”

‘Badge of Shame’

The main opposition Labour Party accused ministers of “sitting this one out” when it came to negotiating with NHS workers.

“The widespread strikes today are a badge of shame for the government,” Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters.

“Nobody wants to see these strikes, nobody wants to be on strike—the last thing nurses want to do is to be on strike. What they do want is a government that can show leadership, get around the negotiating table, and settle this dispute.

“Before Christmas, the nurses made clear that if the government was to get in the room and talk to them about pay, they wouldn’t be on strike. I think many people listening to this will be absolutely flabbergasted that the government is still sitting this one out, not showing any leadership in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, making the situation much worse than it otherwise would be.”

PA Media contributed to this report.