As picket lines are set up and Christmas Day-style service is adopted in many hospitals, nurses say they are not relishing the action, which was a 'difficult decision'.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said agency NHS trusts were"pulling out all the stops" to lessen the impact on patients.
When it submitted the 5% figure to the independent pay review body in March, inflation was running at 7.5%.Meanwhile, in Scotland, RCN members are being consulted on a revised pay offer from the Scottish government."It has been a difficult decision taken by hundreds of thousands who begin to remove their labour in a bid to be heard, recognised and valued."Nursing staff on picket lines is a sign of failure on the part of governments.
Mr Barclay added:"My number one priority is to keep patients safe - I've been working across government and with medics outside the public sector to ensure safe staffing levels - but I do remain concerned about the risk that strikes pose to patients. "We need to find a way as a government, and the union does too, to get to that centre point, that point of agreement straight away," he told Talk TV.
The Western Trust in Northern Ireland said it had"regrettably taken the decision to cancel some non-emergency services", with 587 outpatient appointments postponed across Altnagelvin Hospital, Omagh Primary Care and Treatment Centre and South West Acute Hospital.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Staff shortages mean there's no difference between a strike day and normal day, nurse saysStaff shortages mean there's no difference between a strike day and normal day, nurse says 💬 “I’m a nurse, I should be with my patients but the Government has forced this on us”
Read more »
Eddie Howe Christmas 2021 to Christmas 2022 compared to what went before - Absolutely astonishingAbsolutely astonishing - Eddie Howe Christmas 2021 to Christmas 2022 compared to what went before at Newcastle United.
Read more »
The surprisingly good-value Christmas break that visits three cities and costs £150 per day🎄 The surprisingly good-value Christmas multi-city break that costs £150 per day Swap costly hotel rooms for a festive river cruise complete with all-you-can-eat breakfasts buffets 🛳️
Read more »
Jacqueline Jossa labelled 'insane beauty' in perfect Christmas Day dressFans of Jacqueline Jossa have been gushing over the former EastEnders actress and mum-of-two as she modelled a series of stunning sequin dresses for the festive season
Read more »
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park helping struggling families with 'free Christmas Day out for all'Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has promised to offer a free day out to as many as possible until they reach full capacity during December Lincolnshire
Read more »
Shane MacGowan still in hospital as The Pogues star fights ‘dangerous’ infectionShane MacGowan is still in hospital fighting a serious and ‘dangerous’ infection known as viral encephalitis.
Read more »