Following a series of strikes across the country, nurses have warned of more severe strikes amidst their battle for a pay rise leaving the NHS on the brink of collapse. 

The new warnings state more severe strikes in the new year in which nurses would show less generous support inside hospitals. 

A member of the Royal College of Nursing has stated - The government should get this wrapped up by Christmas. January's strikes, if they are forced to go ahead, will see more hospitals and more nurses taking part than at present – 2023 needs to be a fresh start for all, not more of the same.

This follows as the request from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) for a 17.6 per cent rise was denied by the Government and branded "simply not reasonable". 

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

The unprecedented nationwide strikes which took place on the 15th  severely delayed service and are expected to be the catalyst to a series of strikes by other NHS workers, including junior doctors and ambulance workers, during the winter and into the spring.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris added it to be "difficult to judge" whether nurses were being paid enough and believed that their job was simply a "vocation". 

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

Harris added by stating public sector finances were "not in the best of shapes" but continued- "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, which is comparable to 4.5% for most nurses.

The RCN announced the dates after the UK government rejected its offer of official, thorough discussions as an alternative to striking action.  

The RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen stated -"My offer of formal negotiations was declined and, instead, ministers have chosen strike action."

Cullen concluded - "The government should get this wrapped up by Christmas. January's strikes, if they are forced to go ahead, will see more hospitals and more nurses taking part than at present – 2023 needs to be a fresh start for all, not more of the same."

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