Nurses reject 5% pay deal and vote for all-out strike - no exemption for emergency care

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Nurses have rejected the government's wage offer and announced a full strike with all services affected for the first time in NHS history.

A majority of members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) rejected the 5% pay deal, by 54% to 46%, despite a recommendation from union leaders to accept it.< / p>

In order to force the hand of the government, the union announced a 24-hour walkout for 48 hours from 8 p.m. on April 30 until the evening of May 2.

Unlike previous strikes, the shutdown will affect nurses working in emergency departments, intensive care units, cancer care and other departments that were previously exempt.

In the letter to Health Secretary Steve Barclay, RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen has warned that the Government's existing wage offer is "simply not good enough".

"After a historic vote in favor of the strike, our members expect a historic wage reward," she said.

There was some good news for the government on Friday, however, as Unison announced that its 150,000 healthcare workers, including cleaners, porters, paramedics, as well as some nurses, would take up the offer.

The Le RCN comes as 47,000 doctors in training quit after four days off.

The deal rejected by the RCN included a one-off payment of at least £1,665 and a pay rise of £5 % next year.< /p>

Announcing the new strike, Ms Cullen said: 'The government needs to increase what has already been on offer and we will be very critical of any action to reduce it .

"Since our talks in February, we have seen the pressures on the NHS continue to increase. The crisis in our health and care services cannot be resolved without meaningful action that addresses the pressing recruitment and retention issues and the remuneration of nurses to end this conflict as a matter of urgency.

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"Until there is a substantially improved offer, are forced back to the picket line. Meetings alone are not enough to prevent a strike and I will demand an improved offer as soon as possible. In February you opened negotiations directly with me and I urge you to do the same now.

Government says escalating strikes are 'extremely disappointing' and 'worrying for patients' .

Adam Brimelow, Director of Communications at NHS Providers, who...