On Thursday nurse’s went on strike which had a “significant impact” and next week’s action could be “extremely challenging” for hospitals and patients and the NHS.
Tens of thousands of nurse’s have walked out over pay, conditions and fearing for patient safety across the UK and on 20 December they will walkout again.
Saffron Cordery told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme said, “What we saw yesterday was a really mixed picture, so we’re receiving varied reports from trust leaders across the country.
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“In terms of things like routine operations, so far we’ve heard that probably between around 40 to 60% of those routine operations have been cancelled in places where the strikes were held.
“So it’s fair to say that there’s been a relatively significant impact and I think it was a very demanding day overall, on the front line in the NHS.”
The interim chief executive of NHS Providers warned that due to the strikes, it is “going to get increasingly difficult” for NHS trust leaders.
She added, “We know that the winter is always a very tricky time in the NHS and we know it’s a particularly demanding time.
“Coming alongside an ambulance strike on the following day, I think it’s going to be a very challenging time next week.”
However, the Conservative chairman of the Commons Health Committee Steve Brine has suggested that Ministers should reconsider an “elegant” way to end the NHS strikes.
Brine said it could be a good idea to go back to the independent review body as they had made the pay rise recommendation prior to the war starting in Ukraine which has severely hampered the economy.
Brine told the BBC’s World At One Programme, “Everyone needs to cool it and I think sending it back to the pay review body to have a look would be a sensible answer.”
He suggested this could well be a way for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to step back from next week’s action which could resolve the situation.
He was asked if this could resolve the strike situation, he replied, “I would agree. That’s the elegant way to make that movement.”
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