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    13

    Jan 2023

    Last Updated: 13/01/2023
    Health
    Health

    Nurses at Harrogate hospital set for first strike

    by Calvin Robinson

    | 13 Jan, 2023
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    nursesstrike
    Royal College of Nursing members on strike in December. Picture: RCN.

    Nurses at Harrogate District Hospital are set to go on strike for the first time.

    Members of the Royal College of Nursing will walk out on Wednesday (January 18) and Thursday (January 19) next week.

    The strike, which is the first national walkout by the royal college, is being held after a dispute with government over pay and conditions.

    Officials at Harrogate District Hospital said they were working to ensure the walkout causes “minimal disruption” to patient care.

    The royal college said the move was part of an escalation of industrial action.

    Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: 

    “The government had the opportunity to end this dispute before Christmas but instead they have chosen to push nursing staff out into the cold again in January.
    “I do not wish to prolong this dispute, but the Prime Minister has left us with no choice.”
    “While pay is a matter for Government and the trade unions, we greatly value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering high quality patient care to all those who need it.
    “We understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.
    “We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal should any strike action take place, and have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption.
    “We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum, and any members of the public that need care should continue to come forward as normal.
    “If you have an appointment or operation that is scheduled on a proposed strike day we would kindly ask you to be patient and we will notify you as soon as possible to confirm if your consultation or treatment will be affected.”





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    Strikes hit Harrogate district


    The walkout are set to become the latest to hit the Harrogate district.

    Staff from Yorkshire Ambulance Service staged a 24-hour walkout on Wednesday.

    A picket line was formed at Harrogate Ambulance Station on Lancaster Park Road close to the hospital.

    It was the second time staff at Yorkshire Ambulance Service have gone on strike in the last month, although they continued to respond to the most serious category one calls.

    Meanwhile, the RMT Union staged another strike outside Harrogate Railway Station in the latest wave of walkouts by rail workers last Friday.