NHS Confederation responds to result of RCN pay vote

Responding to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announcing that its members have voted that their pay deal is not enough, Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said:

“NHS leaders will be disappointed to hear of the threat of further walk-outs given the dust has barely settled on the five-day resident doctor strike. Patients are always the ones who end up suffering the most during industrial action as they are left waiting longer for their vital treatments, potentially in pain, discomfort and distress.

“But we welcome the RCN’s willingness to engage on wider issues than pay given the red lines set by the government that the NHS must live within its means. We hope that the government can respond to the tight timetable for negotiations set by the RCN so there is no need for further strikes.”