Nurses could strike until Christmas as dispute with Tories over NHS pay escalates

Royal College of Nursing secretary general Pat Cullen said members would be elected in a new wave of industrial action after rejecting the latest government salary offer

The nurses are ready for two more days of strike action - and could launch further industrial action in the coming months (

Image: Getty Images)

Nurses could go on strike until Christmas as Tory pay dispute escalates, a union leader warned today.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing rejected the government's latest pay offer last week, despite general secretary Pat Cullen recommending they accept the deal.

Ministers have proposed a 5% pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least £1,655 to top up last year's salary.

Defending the deal, Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands said today: "'I can't stress enough that it's fair, both for nurses, for all of NHS staff, for public sector staff and for the taxpayer.

"Of course the other unions are voting right now. The nurses narrowly voted it down, despite the recommendation of Pat Cullen and the RCN leadership."

But the deal was refused and the nurses are now ready to stand down for 48 hours on April 30 and May 2.

Chairman of the Conservative Party, Greg Hands (

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PENNSYLVANIA)

NHS nurses in emergency departments, intensive care and cancer wards will take industrial action for the first time.

Ms Cullen today warned that more industrial action could be staged in the coming months if members vote for further walkouts.

“We have a strike for the end of this month and the beginning of May and then we will proceed immediately to the vote of our members,” she told BBC1’s Laura Kuenssberg On Sunday program.

"If this election is successful, it will mean more strikes until Christmas."