FRESH WAVE OF NHS STRIKES AS NURSES WALK OUT OVER PAY
A fresh wave of NHS strikes have begun as nurses in Wales continue to call for better pay.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said most of its eligible members recently voted to reject the latest pay offer from the Welsh government.
Union members in all but one of Wales's health boards will be walking out.
Aneurin Bevan in south east Wales is the only Welsh health board not affected by the walkout.
The devolved government in Cardiff said it recognised "the strength of feeling among members" but added it was "disappointed" by ongoing strike action.
RCN said it had requested the health minister re-open NHS pay negotiations but "talks are not yet forthcoming".
The union said disruption would be "greater" than in the first round of strike action in December 2022.
Helen Whyley, director of RCN Wales said more strikes could take place next month if the dispute continues.
"If two consecutive days of strike action still does not shake the Welsh government to listen to the voice of nursing in Wales and take actions to resolve our dispute, we will return to the picket lines once again in July," she said.
"Nursing makes up the largest portion of the NHS. The Welsh government should heed our concerns about patients' safety and wellbeing and the nursing profession future."
A Welsh government spokesperson said: "While we recognise the strength of feeling among members, we are disappointed that strike action is continuing despite the collective decision to accept the agenda for change pay offer by the Wales partnership forum business committee."
Read more from Sky News:
The government said people should do all they can to "minimise" pressure on the NHS during industrial action.
"We are working with the NHS, unions and partners to ensure life-saving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, patient safety is maintained and disruption is minimised," the spokesperson added.
"But it is vital that all of us do all we can to minimise pressure on our health service during the industrial action and consider carefully what activities we take part in."
2023-06-06T08:44:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd