Ms Keegan told Sky News she “of course” applauded nurses during the pandemic. But when asked if she was comfortable with nurses now being forced to use food banks, she replied: “Very often when you go to food banks, something will have happened, you know, something will have broken – whether it’s a relationship or a boiler or whatever. . “They’re usually in an emergency situation.” Sunak to face Williamson appointment – Politics last Mrs Keegan also told nurses there was no point in striking over pay. “I don’t think there’s any point in going on strike,” he told Kay Burley. “I would urge nurses to continue these discussions, but the reality is that if we did huge increases above inflation, not only would we have to raise a lot more money, but it would actually feed into inflation. “That’s the problem. We really have to deal with inflation.” It comes as a nursing union representing hundreds of thousands of nurses in the UK is expected to vote to hold its first nationwide strike in its 106-year history. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) had called on more than 300,000 of its members to vote in favor of industrial action over pay in the union’s biggest ever strike vote. The result of the vote will be announced later today. The RCN has asked its members to receive a pay rise of 5% above the rate of RPI inflation, which is currently over 12%. This request was not met by any UK state. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:30 Patient confronts PM over nurses’ pay Although the details of the potential strike have yet to be determined, patients are likely to experience disruption to work and appointments. Oliver Dowden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, previously told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge program on Sunday that the government had “well-oiled” contingency plans to deal with any strike by nurses. In the event of industrial action, the NHS would prioritize the most essential services, he said. Read more: More than 15,000 ambulance workers to vote on strike Higher pay offer for nurses unlikely to be on the table Recent analysis showed that the salary of an experienced nurse has fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, the RCN said, adding that nurses are working the equivalent of one day a week for nothing. Health workers in other unions, including ambulance staff, hospital porters and cleaners, are also voting for industrial action over pay. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We value the hard work of NHS staff, including nurses, and are working hard to support them – including giving over one million NHS workers a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year as recommended. by the independent NHS Pay Review Body, up from 3% last year when pay was frozen across the wider public sector. “Industrial action is a matter for unions and we urge them to carefully consider the potential impact on patients.”
