‘WE ARE fighting for tomorrow,’ – that was the view of Adrian Clarkson, senior Bromsgrove officer for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), during today’s strike.
He was one of 30 nurses outside the Princess of Wales Community Hospital as part of the national RCN action to increase pay in line with inflation for current healthcare staff and to entice more into the profession.
Adrian added: “It’s unsafe now – it’s not unsafe because we’re on strike.
“We empathise with the patients in this position, but we are doing this for them and for a brighter future.”
Bromsgrove’s nurses joined over 100,000 others across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The union said its nurses had received under-inflation pay rises for many years and many did not want to stay in the profession because wages did not match the roles they were undertaking.
Maxine Palmer said she had seen a huge difference from when she joined.
“Thirty years ago, we had the right amount of staff to ensure the safety of our patients.
“You would go to work and have a number of patients to look after, and you would give them the safest, best care possible.
“We don’t have that now.
“We leave our shifts and nurses are crying, emotionally battered, physically exhausted – we are stressed, and upset because we are leaving our shifts knowing we can’t provide that care.
“Patients are being put at risk every single day – every shift a nurse works, their patients are at risk.”
Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Trust said it was trying to minimise the impact of planned industrial action and was ensuring urgent services could be provided.
It added, depending on turnout on strike days, some services would be reduced or postponed.
RCN nurses will be at the picket line again on Tuesday.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the Government recognised the pressure on the NHS and hugely valued the work which nurses did which was why they accepted in full the recommendations of the independent pay body.
