All NHS employers in Wales except one vote to strike over pay

Nursing staff at all but one NHS employers in Wales have voted to take strike action over pay levels and patient safety concerns, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed.

Cardiff and Vale university Health Board is among those voting for strike action.

Action will take place in the NHS trusts or health boards which have met the relevant legal requirements. 

This includes the largest hospital in Wales - University Hospital Wales in Cardiff - a result the RCN says "demonstrates a legitimate representation of our members’ decision on next steps for our fight for fair pay and safe care for patients". 

RCN Wales is confirming that the first period of industrial action can be expected in December and the RCN’s mandate to organise strikes runs until early May 2023, six months after members finished voting.    

This is the first statutory ballot on industrial action across the UK in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing.  

The results for each NHS employer are analysed individually in what is known as a ‘disaggregated’ ballot. 

RCN Wales remains in a pay dispute with Welsh Government since October 2021 over its three per cent pay award for NHS Wales nursing staff. 

NHS employers who met the threshold include:  

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board
• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
• Digital Health and Care Wales
• Health Education and Improvement Wales
• Hywel Dda University Health Board
• NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
• Powys Teaching Local Health Board
• Public Health Wales
• Swansea Bay University Health Board
• Velindre University NHS Trust
• Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust 

Helen Whyley, director at RCN Wales, said: “Today is a historic day for the nursing profession, our patients, and the future of nursing but ultimately one born of desperation.

"The decision to strike, has in not been taken lightly, and has passed to demand change where no other solution has been possible.

“Our members have spoken on what is an incredibly difficult decision both professionally and personally. The result of this ballot shows just how much nursing staff put the safety of their patients above all else.  

“Over the last few weeks of our campaign I have been overwhelmed by the support our members and the public have shown.

“I have visited hospitals and workplaces throughout Wales. I have heard first hand of nurses who are struggling to pay their household bills, of the extra hours they have worked for free to subsidise the NHS, the shifts they have gone without any breaks. They have told me of their constant worry and despair for the safety of their patients due to short staffing.  

“There is currently no escape for staff, worry and guilt for their patients at work, worry and guilt for their families at home. This is not sustainable. Many have told me that they cannot continue in their beloved profession without change. 

“The message is loud and clear. Enough is enough. It is time to take decisive action against a spiralling workforce crisis that is putting patients’ lives in danger and has no regard for nursing staff wellbeing.”

The RCN say that pay is a key contributing factor to acute staff shortages affecting patient safety.

In Wales, an experienced nurse has seen their pay decline by at least 20 per cent in real terms.

The RCN says fair pay is essential to retain existing and recruit new nursing staff in the safety critical roles they do.

It is calling for a pay rise of five per cent above inflation to start making up for a decade of real-terms pay cuts.

The RCN Wales, in a letter, told the Health Minister Eluned Morgan MS, that RCN Wales is ready and waiting to open discussions as soon as the Welsh Government wants to make a genuine commitment to improve the current NHS Wales pay award.  

 They also sttressed that any strike action will be carried out legally and safely at all times.