NHS ON THE BRINK

Healthcare crisis deepens as union says ‘enough is enough’. Patients facing a winter of long queues & cancelled appointments

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

PATIENTS face a wave of cancelled appointments after NHS nurses voted to strike in a row over pay. 

Trade union boss Pat Cullen said: “Our members are saying enough is enough.”

Christmas chaos on the wards

• Nurses vote to strike over pay for first time ever
• They join other NHS staff with action in December
• Yousaf: No money for demand of 5% above inflation

PATIENTS are facing a winter of long queues and cancelled appointments after Scotland's nurses voted for strike action.

The Royal College of Nursing's ballot on industrial action was overwhelmingly backed by nurses in Scotland yesterday after they rejected a five per cent pay offer.

It is the first time in the RCN's 106-year history that members have voted to strike across the UK.

The first wave of action is expected over the Christmas period.

The nurses join their colleagues in the Royal College of Midwives, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and both the GMB and Unite unions in voting for industrial action.

Nursing leaders claimed NHS staff were facing a cost-of-living crisis as inflation runs above 10 per cent and demanded a pay rise to reflect their extra efforts during the coronavirus crisis.