STEVE Barclay WILL meet with the Royal College of Nursing union today in a last ditch attempt to save the NHS from crippling strike action.
Up to 100,000 nurses are set to walk out this Thursday and the following Tuesday.
PASteve Barclay is set to meet with the Royal College of Nursing today in a last ditch effort to stop strike action[/caption]
Union members are striking over pay after asking for an inflation-busting hike of 19 per cent.
In the latest round of negotiations, the government offered a backdated 5 per cent pay rise this year and 4 per cent from January.
But the union rejected the offer.
Both the Tories and Labour have described the RCN’s demand as untenable and unaffordable.
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This weekend nursing union chief Pat Cullen pledged to halt industrial action if Mr Barclay meets her for a one-to-one pay chat.
The offer was originally snubbed, but today the minister changed his mind and agreed to a discussion.
Sources told The Sun that Mr Barclay’s position on pay, which is determined by an independent pay review body, hasn’t changed.
Up to 15,000 operations are expected to be cancelled this week because of the nurses strike.
It comes as ambulance workers are set to walk out next Wednesday and the Wednesday after.
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And as rail workers, posties, and border force staff are all staging rolling industrial action too – wrecking Christmas parties and travel plans and clobbering businesses.
Speaking in the Commons chamber today, Health Minister Will Quince said: “We are all hugely grateful for the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, so we deeply regret that some union members have voted for industrial action.
“Our priority must be to keep patients safe. That begins with keeping the door open.
“We’re working with the NHS to minimise disruption if the strikes do go again.”
If talks fail and the strike does go ahead, the government has advised patients to continue to call 999 as normal in an emergency.
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Brits suffering from a non-life threatening condition should still use NHS 111.
Ambulances will continue responding to 999 calls and if patients have an appointment they should still turn up unless they’ve been advised not to do so.
Mr Quince added: “We remain deeply concerned about the risk strikes pose to patients. But even at this moment of uncertainty people must keep coming forward to get the care they need.