Nurses forced to survive on patients' remains say 'this is why we are on strike'

Nurses from the majority of UK NHS employers have voted to strike over pay and working conditions.

The Royal College of Nursing has said industrial action will take place in NHS trusts or health boards that have met the legal requirements.

Many of England's biggest hospitals will see strikes from RCN members, but others have narrowly missed the legal participation thresholds to qualify.

All NHS employers in Northern Ireland and Scotland will be included and all but one in Wales have met the relevant statutory thresholds.

The Mirror spoke to two nurses, Esther and Carmel, who shared their day-to-day struggles at work, including being unable to take lunch breaks and being overworked due to understaffing.

Nurse Esther: "I am depriving myself of meals"

Exhausted and hungry, unable to afford lunch in the hospital canteen, barely able to afford groceries to prepare a packed lunch, nurse Esther had to eat leftovers from patients during her shifts work.

This is not allowed. When she was caught, she was scolded, and she certainly doesn't want to eat the dregs left on stained plastic trays.

But if it saves dizziness and pangs, gives her energy so she can finish her shift, she will.

Carmel O'Boyle said nurses should be able to pay their bills (see below) (

Picture:

Echo of Liverpool)

Esther said it's common for nurses to eat leftovers (

Picture:

Paul David Drabble)

Furthermore, the nurse from Zimbabwe says many of her colleagues do the same.

Esther, 36, who with a heavy heart is supporting the strike for better pay, which is due to be announced tomorrow by the Royal College Of Nursing, explains: "Yes, I am starving myself. Lunch, sometimes breakfast You can't go and buy a hot meal at work, it costs £6-7.

“Sometimes you have to take extra sandwiches from the patient carts. Of course, people will tell you that it's against hospital policy. do this.

"Sometimes they scold you, but they didn't report me. It's common to take leftover food, even British nurses do it.

"It's never just leftovers, and it keeps you going."