"Be warned, Rishi Sunak: the British public is on the side of the striking nurses"

As we banged on pots and pans to thank NHS staff during the pandemic, we hoped their sacrifices would be rewarded with fair pay. It's appalling that this Conservative government refuses to give it to them

Nurses demanding better pay and conditions at a picket line at St Thomas' Hospital, London (

Image: Getty Images)

No one wants to strike. People value hard work. It is part of their identity, they are proud of it. And being forced to go on strike is a difficult thing.

It's the same in any job, but it's especially difficult in nursing. Nursing is a special profession. Low pay, long hours, hard work. And they continue. During the pandemic, they risked their lives to keep hospitals running.

Some of the stories that emerged from the front lines were beyond heartbreaking. Delivered with faulty, under-prepared equipment, the instructions are constantly changing. They continued.

We were asked to hit pots and pans for them. And we assumed that they would receive their reward. Fair compensation.

Everyone knew what he had been through, the sacrifice.

Nurses on the picket line at St Thomas' Hospital in London on the first day of the strike (

Picture:

Humphrey Nemar / Daily Mirror)

Instead, for the first time in its history, the Royal College of Nursing voted for strikes. He didn't want to but no one listened.

The effects have already been felt, with six out of ten routine surgeries canceled this week. But in the face of mounting pressure, despite preposterous attempts by conservatives to portray nurses as irresponsible, the public supports them.

Not just supporting them; donate to ensure they get the support they need.

This is a clear message to the PM. The public has chosen its camp. He now has a Friday deadline to resolve the issue.

Nurses demand safe staffing, proper patient care and decent pay. It's hard to see where the argument is.