Nurses across the country are set to strike for the first time in history following disputes over unfair wages within the cost of living crisis. 

Nurses across the UK are set to strike following the request from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) for a 19% pay rise being denied by the Government and branded "simply not reasonable". 

Downing Street added that they were "deeply regrettable" and the pay increase demand, which comes with a 9 billion price tag, was "not deliverable"

The unprecedented nationwide strike will severely delay service and is expected to be the start of a series of strikes by other NHS workers, including junior doctors and ambulance workers, during the winter and into the spring.

The RCN feels that current NHS services are "not safe," and has accused governments of not listening to their concerns.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary said  "Everything the government is doing across the whole of public sector pay, which is the only pay sector that we can influence, is aiming at the lower-paid and the more vulnerable in society. So we understand that we need to help people a bit more."

He stated that the NHS pay review panel has handed at least "1,400 raises to 1 million NHS staff this year, comparable to 4.5% for most nurses.

The RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen stated - "Ministers have had more than two weeks since we confirmed that our members felt such injustice that they would strike for the first time,". 

She continued - "My offer of formal negotiations was declined and, instead, ministers have chosen strike action."

Nurses are set to walk out on the 15th and 20th of December between 8 am-8 pm with 25,000 nursing students expected to walk out being the biggest strike in NHS history.