THE public were urged to use NHS services “wisely” today after striking nurses began their walk out across the country last night.
Royal College of Nursing members in more than 100 NHS organisations have walked out until midnight tonight.
The public was urged to use NHS services ‘wisely’ after the nurses’ strike beganAlamy
Chief Nursing Officer Dame Ruth May advised the public to still call 999 in the case of a medical emergencyPA
The increasingly isolated union is under pressure to u-turn on fresh strikes after their 28 hour walk ends.
After climbing down on staffing kids hospitals, the RCN must seek a new mandate for any further strikes after Tuesday.
Unions including Unison and the GMB have voted in favour of a Government pay offer to end the strikes, while Unite and the RCN have voted against.
Ministers have urged them to “think again” as what they are doing “clearly does put patients at risk.”
Last night the RCN agreed to staff “life and limb” services including special care babies and A&E.
But NHS bosses warned this would still mean delays at hospitals and represent a “very significant” risk.
Chief Nursing Officer Dame Ruth May said: “Positive discussions with the RCN this weekend have resulted in a number of national agreements to ensure staff are able to provide direct patient care needed to protect life-and-limb services, covering neonatal ICU, paediatric ICU, intensive care and emergency departments.
“These mitigations do not represent a return to standard staffing.
“The industrial action will still have a very significant impact on services during the strike period and patients can expect to see longer waits for care.”
She added: “The public should use the NHS wisely, with those needing non-urgent care using pharmacies and 111 online as their first port of call.
“And if you have a life-threatening emergency, please seek help in the usual way by dialling 999.”