Responding to the announcement that resident doctors in England have voted in favour of industrial action, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:

“Nursing staff are similarly voting in strong numbers and telling the government to go faster in repairing a damaged NHS and undervalued workforce.

“Avoiding strikes by talking, negotiating and planning together is the only sensible route open to ministers. As the largest health care workforce, we give the majority of care and transforming the NHS won’t happen without investment in nursing.”

Ends 

Notes to Editors 

The RCN is currently asking 345,000 members across England, Wales and Northern Ireland if this year’s pay award of 3.6% is enough.