NHS strikes: We respond to NHS Staff Council meeting

Following the NHS Staff Council meeting that took place this afternoon, Louise Ansari, our CEO, said: 

“We recognise that NHS staff have been delivering care under unprecedented circumstances for the last few years. This has been a huge worry for service users and the wider public.

“Since December, the pay dispute between government and NHS staff has resulted in people facing delays to more than half a million operations, hospital outpatient appointments or care provided by community and mental health services. Our past research into people’s experience of backlogs caused by the pandemic highlighted that last-minute delays to care often caused major disruption to their lives and affected their mental health.

“That’s why we welcome confirmation that the government and unions covering paramedics, physiotherapy, midwives and many other NHS staff, have agreed to settle their pay dispute, which will help the NHS focus on recovery of services. It’s now more imperative than ever that people get support to manage their condition or pain levels while they’re waiting for delayed operations or appointments and that they receive timely communication about when they will finally be seen.

“However, the prospect of ongoing action by nurse members of the RCN and junior doctors remains a cause for concern, and we call on all parties to redouble efforts to resolve their dispute.”