London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Nurses' strike: The young NHS workers who voted yes

Nurses' strike: The young NHS workers who voted yes

Nurses at some NHS trusts are expected to walk out later this year after voting in favour of striking.

Unions have said even new recruits were struggling to see a future in the NHS, with nurses struggling with workloads and rising prices not matching wages.

It will be the first UK-wide action by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in more than 100 years.

There's been criticism from some, with the government in England urging nurses to consider the impact on patients.

It will be a different picture across the UK - in England the turnout was too low in nearly half of trusts for action to take place.

But, nurses in every service in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted for action, and in Wales all but one health board did.

Student nurse Ellie McNicol only started her course at the University of Bristol last year but says she has already seen enough to know things need to change.

"Lots of mistakes are happening that shouldn't be due to staffing pressures," the 22-year-old told BBC Newsbeat.

"I've seen it firsthand. We get a lot of pressure put on us."


Ellie says she knew nursing would be hard but feels working conditions need to improve

Ellie was inspired to get into nursing after caring for her brother when he was in an accident a couple of years ago.

"If I didn't feel so strongly about wanting to help people I'd consider dropping out," Ellie says.

"I knew it was going to be hard. It's common knowledge that nurses don't get half of what they deserve."

As a student, she doesn't get paid for her time working on wards but receives a bursary to help with her travel costs.


'Really big reason'


The walkout will involve Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members in more than half of hospitals and community teams, but emergency care will still be staffed.

The government in England pointed out it had given a pay rise in line with what had been recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review body.

England Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he "deeply regretted" that some union members had voted for action, adding the "priority is keeping patients safe during any strikes".

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health managers, urged the government and RCN to get back to the negotiating table.

"The last thing anyone wants is a 'war of attrition' playing out over many months."

Ellie understands the concerns, but says: "If nurses feel like their only option is to strike, it must be something really big.

"When it's Royal Mail, it's just people's post, not their lives on the line," she says.

With the cost of living increasing, she argues nurses have to look after themselves as much as they look after others.


The strikes: What you need to know


*  Strikes will affect routine services, such as planned operations, district nursing and mental health support but not emergency care

*  The RCN called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate which currently stands at above 12%, but no UK nation has offered close to that

*  Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses

*  The government appealed to nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients

*  The strike will be the first time UK-wide action is taken by RCN members in its 106-year history

'Creating a better place'


Paediatric nurse Jessie Collins works in schools and A&E and also voted in favour of strike action.

"It's about creating a work culture that retains staff," she says.

"As nurses, it's really hard not to be able to deliver the care you want to."

The 29-year-old says the strikes are also to "highlight the fact we aren't paid in line with what we think we're worth and the profession is worth".

"And it's about trying to make it a better place, not just for us, but for our patients as well."

“I can’t ever imagine doing anything else, but it’s a job that takes a lot from you," Jessie says


She describes being a nurse as "really rewarding", but says the job "has to be a place that is safe".

"There is a massive staffing crisis. In the long-term, it's going to be quite catastrophic, unless they do something," she says.

And she feels the short-term impact of striking has "nothing on the impact on patient care over the past few years".

"It's not something we ever imagined we would do. And it's for the benefit of our patients in the long run."


'Can't afford my job'


Luke, who works in Wales, says he voted to strike after six years in the job.

"The volume of work and the level of responsibility is unbelievable for the money you're on," says Luke, who didn't want to share his full name.

He's seen his outgoings shoot up by £400 a month, and says he's having to pick up extra weekend shifts to make ends meet.

"How is frozen pay going to help me deal with that?" he asks. "My job is now unaffordable."

Luke says his nursing job has become "unaffordable"


Although high numbers of nurses are choosing to leave the profession, Luke says he is so passionate about his career he would not consider quitting.

"None of us are in this for the money," he says. "This is not a career you go in to to get rich.

"It's not just a job you do - you give a piece of yourself to it."

Choosing to strike was a "preventative measure", he says, adding the quality of care was already slipping.

"It really is life and death," he says.

"Patients are already suffering because we're struggling to give them the care they need and deserve."

The exact information for when strike action will occur has not yet been announced.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×