Nurses' strike: West Yorkshire staff walk out for second day of action

Striking nurses in West Yorkshire say they have received strong public support as they take part in a second day of industrial action.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members joined picket lines in Leeds and Bradford as part of a walkout across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The RCN says nurses deserve a pay rise of 19%, but the prime minister says such an increase would be unaffordable.

One nurse on a picket line in Bradford said: "It's 99% support for us."

Nurses at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are among those taking part in the strike.

Emergency care will continue but routine services will be hit again.

Among the striking staff stood outside Leeds General Infirmary, Julie Parkinson, a trauma and related services nurse, said: "I've been a nurse for 37 years and I never thought I'd see the day.

"It's an incredibly sad day for the NHS and nurses, we should not be here, we need them to come to the table.

"It's not about us, it's about patients and it's about the state of our NHS. It's a war zone out there and we need support."

Richard Deacon, from the RCN, said: "I think nurses have been under so much pressure in recent years, particularly with the pandemic.

"I think what we're showing here today is the strength of anger about how nurses feel they're being treated along with other healthcare workers too."

He added: "Nurses' pay in real terms is 19% behind what they should be being paid had it kept up with inflation, that's why it's our demand now."

Outside Bradford Royal Infirmary, Jessica Smith, a 37-year-old staff nurse, said: "We were nervous there might be some negative reactions from us being out here, but it's been nothing but positive.

"We don't want to be out on strike, we've proved during the pandemic that we would leave our own families to take care of these patients - now it's time for them to recognise and respect us."

The government has offered NHS staff in England and Wales a 4.75% pay increase.

Union sources have told the BBC that if there is no move to reopen pay talks, then new strike dates will be announced before Christmas with a series of walkouts likely in January.

Helen Peacock, a discharge co-ordinator at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said: "It's a shame we've had to take this action again, obviously it affects the general public and that's not what we want at all.

"If the government will get round the table, [RCN general secretary] Pat Cullen has said she's willing to negotiate - she just wants to talk."

The 50-year-old continued: "It's 99% support for us, they understand why we're doing it and understand we wouldn't do it if we didn't feel we had to."

"It's disheartening that it has had to come to this but it needs to be done, if we don't make a stand now when do we make a stand?" said Nasima Begum, a 40-year-old staff nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"I understand patients are waiting and Covid has delayed appointment times, but if we don't get better staffing now you're going to be waiting even longer."

There are more than 100 nurses standing outside Leeds General Infirmary on another brilliant blue-sky day.

This is the second time in just five days these nurses have walked away from the patients they care for and about.

Every time a car beeps a horn they cheer and wave placards, including some homemade ones saying things like "some cuts don't heal" and "safe staffing saves lives".

Many of the nurses are deeply torn about going on strike but say this is about protecting the workforce and patients.

The government says the pay offer is fair but those here don't see it that way.

The weather for this second strike is warmer than the first but this dispute shows no sign on thawing.

The strike means routine care such as knee and hip replacements are likely to be affected.

However, life-saving treatment must be provided and anyone who is ill or seriously injured should still call 999, or 111 for non-urgent care.

Hospitals in Bradford and Leeds which are affected by the strike have said urgent and emergency care will be prioritised.

Anyone with hospital appointments should attend as normal, unless they have been contacted in advance by the hospital.

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