The biggest strike in the history of public hospitals is happening in the UK. As inflation hits 11%, more and more sectors are joining the movement and it is the turn of Irish, Welsh and English nurses to do so. Two dates have been announced, December 15 and 20, just before Christmas. Only emergency care will be maintained.
With our correspondent in London, Marie Boeda
In 106 years of existence, the profession has never mobilized at the national level.
But the situation is untenable, explains Catherin, a nurse in an emergency service in the capital.
I wonder every day why I do this job. I don’t know how I’m going to last another 25 years. I have worked for the public hospital for sixteen years. The difference between yesterday and today is massive. Staff suffer, patients suffer. The government does not take us seriously.
The main request? A 19% salary increase to deal with inflation. Impossible, says the government. Discussions are interrupted.
Lisa has had enough, she plans to go on strike next month.
Nurses and staff at the public hospital have been angry for a long time. Conditions are getting worse and worse. The pandemic has exposed many problems that already existed. We risked our lives, our skills and responsibilities grew without the salary that goes with it.
So much so that some give up. Last year, 40,000 nurses left the profession.
And this hospital crisis does not only concern caregivers. According to official statistics, seven million patients are still awaiting treatment.
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