London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Aug 05, 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
Elon Musk Receives $23.7 Billion Tesla Stock Award
Texas House Paralyzed After Democrats Walk Out Over Redistricting
Mexican Cartels Complicate Sheinbaum’s U.S. Security Talks
Mark Zuckerberg Declares War on the iPhone
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
×