NHS workers across England to strike for four hours over pay
The Government is facing more industrial action by public sector workers, with health staff expected to go on strike from 7.00-11.00am on 13 October followed by a further four days of action when UNISON members will stop working through their breaks. Unions are in dispute over the Government’s refusal to accept a recommended 1% pay rise for NHS workers. The strike/dispute will be followed by a national demonstration organised by the TUC on October 18 under the banner “Britain Needs A Pay Rise”. Launched in 1948, the NHS has grown to become the world’s largest publicly funded health service. It now employs some 1.7 million people; including 39,780 GPs, 370,327 nurses, 18,687 ambulance staff and 105,711 hospital and community health service staff. Funding for the NHS comes directly from taxation and for the period 2012-2013, the NHS had a budget of £108.9 billion. Yet NHS England is facing a £2 billion funding shortfall in 2014-2015 as it continues to assess and treat more people. While many commentators agree that maintaining the status quo or doing nothing is not viable, how are we going to pay for it and how are we going to make sure we have the clinical staff we need?