NURSES from the Royal College of Nursing who work at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have walked out this week.

Members of the RCN are striking as a result of a pay dispute, as well as over fears for the safety of the patients in their care.

At least 20 members of the RCN in Warrington took to the picket line today, January 18, on Winwick Road.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, the nurses said that they are 'overworked,' 'undervalued,' and 'understaffed.'

Recruiting and retaining staff is one of the biggest problems faced by the nurses from Bridgewater Trust - the nurses on strike said that if pay was to go up, this would attract more people into the profession.

"We've had a pay cut over 10 years because our wages have risen below inflation," one nurse on the picket line said.

Another added: "As a nurse, you should be able to have a house, and afford a car - right now, we struggle to pay the heating bills."

Many of the nurses on strike explained that they often work through their lunch breaks, with one simply saying: "There just aren't enough hours in the day."

One striking nurse said that it was appalling to see nurses having to use foodbanks because of the low rates of pay.

"It works out that we get paid just over £1 per hour more than fast food employees," one of the RCN members said.

Some of those on strike even admitted that they 'are scared to be off work sick.'

When asked what the main issues that need to be resolved are, one nurse replied: "More pay and more staff."

Another said: "Going from the Thursday night 'Clap for the NHS' in lockdown, to having to strike today is demoralising."

The nurses added that nobody takes strike action lightly.

 

Speaking about slight disruptions to NHS services that the industrial action will cause, Dr Fiona Lemmens, deputy medical director at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “The NHS has tried and tested plans in place to mitigate risks to patient safety and manage any disruption, including industrial action, but inevitably there will be some service disruption.

“Emergency care and other critical services such as maternity departments will be open as usual but, with NHS services already under pressure, it is vital that people use the available services appropriately.

“If you need to access a healthcare service, but it’s not an emergency, please use NHS 111 Online to ensure you are signposted to the right service the first time.”